Enough is enough!

By Lisa Greey –

I absolutely love when I read a passage in scripture that sounds like something I would say.  Ironically, these are not usually the profound and positive verses, but the “life is hard and challenging” type of verses.  One of my personal favorites, which my sister and I relentlessly quoted to each other during our college finals, “O Lord, how long must we wait.”  Of course we tacked on “until the end of finals” and the whole thing was said in a very dramatic voice.

Today’s first reading has another great one liner to add to my repertoire.   Elijah is walking in the dessert.  He’s tired and hungry and probably dehydrated.  We can relate of course because this summer has been unbearably hot!  He calls out saying, “This is enough, Lord!”  Who hasn’t been in this same place?  Enough is enough!  I am done with living a chaste life.  I am tired of being the good kid.  I don’t see the light at the end of this tunnel.  Who hasn’t hit the wall, not only in the spiritual life but because we’re stressed, tired, and nothing seems to be working out?  I think this is what Elijah must have been feeling because he even prays for death!

However, when we say that’s enough – God steps in to say, “I AM enough.”  Whatever isn’t working out, however we’re feeling and no matter the size of the wall we’ve just hit – he can protect, provide, and guide.  That’s just what he does for Elijah.  An angel taps him on the shoulder and lo and behold – a piece of bread and a jug of water are next to him!  This is also another great example of God caring for both the body and soul of his people.  He nourishes us physically and spiritually.  One doesn’t outweigh the other because the two cannot be separated.  After Elijah is nourished by the food and, I imagine, spiritually nourished by the presence of the angel, he continues his journey for … 40 days and nights!  Quite the opposite of his prayer request for death!  God always has a plan to provide for us.  When we max out on our own efforts, ideas and energy – he’s there saying, “I am enough.” He fills in what we are lacking, provides where we see no possibilities and leads us to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”