Recently, I have felt God guiding me and leading me in a multitude of ways, one of them being in researching His names, their meanings and just going more in depth in that aspect. With that, as a little context, different names came about for God as a result of what He did or what He meant to the people at the time. Each name for God has its own meaning, reflecting Him and His character in a unique, but beautiful way.
One name in particular, which has stood out and God has been impressing on my heart to talk about is El Shaddai. In Hebrew it translates to, The All Sufficient One. In other words, He has all we could ever ask, want, desire, or need. He is abundantly enough for us. Amen to that, glory to God that He is our ultimate supplier and provider.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." -2 Peter 1:3
Isn't it so good that our God, the one who created us and called us by name has already given us everything we could possibly ever need? That we can find quite literally everything in Him?
However, do we live like that? Do we truly take that to heart and go to Him with every need, every struggle, every worry we have?
Often times, as I am guilty of as well, He is not the first source we go to for answers. Quite frequently actually, we tend to try and solve things in our own strength before ever taking it up with God Almighty (which usually results in worse situations lol).
But why? Why is it that we, the creation, goes to every source but the CREATOR looking for answers which ultimately can only be found in Him to begin with? After all, He is the one who uniquely designed us, He is the only one to know every need we have, every thought we think and is the only one who can truly and divinely provide in those situations. Nothing this world has to offer can even begin to compare to what He has for us, everything else is cheap knock-off versions of joy and goodness that only God offers- all else is temporary highs compared to the everlasting joy found in God almighty. So why do we settle?
Who are we, the creation, to tell the creator how we’re supposed to live our life when He designed us and knows every part of us; He who knows the depths of our inner most being and exactly what we need, when we need it! Who are we to tell him, "No I think this path is best," when He is ALL-KNOWING, and we see but a mere glimpse of the path?!
This perspective makes me see we are such a silly people. Instead of having pride in our heart, we need to humble ourselves in knowing God ultimately does know best and heed better judgment. This alone, just shows the compassion God has for us in displaying how patient, loving, and gentle our God remains; to let us find that out on our own, to test our own strengths and still welcomes us back with open arms not saying, "I told you so," or, "See you should’ve listened," but instead just welcomes us back with no judgment and a tender heart rejoicing in how we came back to Him.
Oh, how great our God is! How great His love is for us, shown in how much He just desires our attention and presence. We are His creation, He desires for us to be with Him, He wants to indwell within what He created; us going to any other vice is shorting ourselves the experience and encounter we get in Christ because He is like no other! So with this, take it as encouragement to not even settle for sermons, podcasts, books, as our filling for the day, but actually get into the word ourselves. Yes all of that is great, but we cannot be so quick to settle for what other people got from God's word rather than diving into it for ourselves, for Him to directly speak to us through His word.
As you have read this article, I pray that this continues to resonate within your heart however God may move in your thoughts. I pray that this was enlightening, just as much as it was encouraging to remember that God is our Jehovah Jireh, our provider and strength in all times of testing and trials. I pray this acts as a reminder that He is Emmanuel, God with us. That He is not far from us, but remains near to the brokenhearted and has been with us in every beat of the heart- from the womb to the present- God has watched over us.
Thank you Lord for your love and continued provision, for your hand which is present in every step of our life God. Thank you for your strength, hedge of protection and continued mercies which go before us every day. Glory be to you Lord, forever and ever, amen.
Comments