May 14, 2018
God is More Than Enough
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
You don’t have enough faith, Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible (Matthew 17:20).
Friend to Friend
I am constantly amazed at the way God works in my life. He constantly puts me in situations that are so over my head and beyond my ability that His presence and power are my only hope and the only possible explanation.
As a high school senior, I began taking organ lessons from our church organist. I had played the piano for years but never touched the organ, which requires an entirely different technique. I had a grand total of eight one-hour lessons under my belt when the phone call came.
“Mary, we have a county-wide crusade coming up in two months and would like for you to be our organist.” My first thought was that one of my friends was playing a joke on me, so I went along with the charade. “Why certainly! I can easily handle that. After all, I have had eight-whole-organ lessons. Just tell me when and where and I will be there with bells on!” I cheerfully replied. The jokester hesitated for a moment but went on to explain that there would be at least two thousand people attending the crusade led by a well-known Texas evangelistic team. Right! “We are planning on a choir of 100 as well as soloists from across the state to sing each night. You will need to accompany both. In addition, we will need background music before and after the services. Can you do it?” I couldn’t quite place the voice but quickly responded, “No problem,” and thanked him for “the wonderful opportunity”.
After hanging up, I had a good laugh and began calling friends to see who the prankster was. No one confessed so I decided to wait them out. The next Sunday, our pastor stepped up to the pulpit to make a special announcement about the upcoming crusade. “You don’t want to miss a single night of the crusade,” he said. “I am proud to announce that our very own Mary Parr will be playing the organ, and I know you will all want to be there to support her.”
My life flashed before my eyes.
As I broke out in a cold sweat, my organ teacher tapped me on the shoulder, beaming, and said, “I am so proud of your courage!” Courage nothing! We’re talking sheer, unadulterated stupidity and life-threatening terror! I thought I was going to throw up or faint but prayed for death - my only way out!
Obviously, the pastor was not joking. I really had agreed to play the organ for a county-wide crusade being held in the Brownwood, Texas Coliseum, and now that the entire world knew, there was no escape without being totally humiliated.
When the ringing in my ears subsided and I could almost breathe again, panic replaced terror as I prayed the most desperate prayer of my life! “God, are You kidding me? Surely, You can’t be serious! This is a big mess, a colossal mistake. Help me!” Slowly but surely, a sweet peace settled my heart as I heard Him say, “Just trust me and walk through your fear.” I did.
Every day for the next two months, I spent every spare minute practicing that organ. I prayed and practiced some more. My organ teacher worked with me and assured me I could do it.
The crusade began. And I learned a very important life lesson that would shape the rest of my life. God specializes in the impossible. Every night I played songs I should not have been able to play. But what amazed me most was how much fun I had playing those songs for that crusade – or should I say I played each song for an audience of One.
To this day, I still have no idea how God pulled it off, but this I do know – it was all Him! And He has proved His sufficiency countless times in my life. When tempted to sidestep obedience by pointing out my inadequacies and listing all of the reasons I couldn’t do something God asked me to do, I remember that crusade and how God came through.
Nothing is impossible or out of reach when you factor God into the equation. He is more than enough!
Let’s Pray
Father, I come to You today, resting in Your sufficiency, not my own. I celebrate Your faithfulness to me and praise You for always being more than enough in my life. Please help me to step out into the unknown by choosing faith over fear – by choosing to wholly trust You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Has God ever asked you to do something that is totally outside your comfort zone? What was your response to Him?
Read Matthew 17:20. “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
We have many different kinds of mountains in our lives. What mountain are you facing? Choose to step out in faith and discover the truth that God is more than enough to move that mountain!
More from the Girlfriends
You and I were created to live life at its best and to experience true success. To live that kind of life requires an unshakable faith that will see us through every storm and every trial we will ever face. An unshakable faith is the foundation for the abundant life Jesus came to provide for each one of us. In this powerful message, 4 Steps to an Unshakable Faith, Mary shares the four steps we can take to experience an unshakable faith.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
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Originally published Monday, 14 May 2018.
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