We recently experienced our first winter storm here in the mountains (if you didn’t know, I live in the Appalachian range near Boone, NC). This time, we had ice, not snow. Snow, you can plow. You can even drive over or through it—with the right vehicle. But ice? I hate ice. It breaks trees. And power lines.
We were without power for only an hour. Our daughter’s family was without for a whole day. She came over with the grands after about 5 hours of no coffee, no iPads, no water, and no more patience. She now hates ice too.
We soon learn what’s important when we have no electricity, don’t we? Since we get our water from a well—and an electric pump pulls the water into our faucets/toilets—we have no water when we have no power. Refrigerator/freezers need power. Furnaces need power. Garage door openers need power. Computers and cell phone chargers need power. I’ll stop there. You get my point…
Important vs. Imperative
Of all the things I listed above, only water is imperative to live. I suppose we could make an argument for the furnace as a way to keep warm in the cold. The other things are important for modern convenience, but we could exist (non-too-pleased, mind you) without a toilet, fridge, garage-door opener, cell phone, or computer.
What things are truly imperative to life? Food. Water. Shelter/Clothing.
Is God Imperative?
Of course, we who are followers of Jesus would answer with an emphatic YES! Right?
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and . . . he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:24-25
I recently posed the question in one of my Wednesday FB posts, “If you were placed in a cabin in the woods with provisions for thirty days and only your Bible but no way to communicate with the outside world—and at the end of that time you’d receive a million dollars—would you do it?”
Scads of folks answered, “Yes! Yes! Pick me! Pick me!” And I would be among those to volunteer—I think.
Wait, maybe we should define “with provisions.” What if the provisions were similar to those described in Daniel’s first chapter…
“Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink . . . At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:11-12,15
In another Wednesday post I referenced this Scripture and asked which vegetables folks would choose to be their only food.
I noticed something interesting in the answers to both of these Wednesday posts. Folks began hedging on the restrictions. Some wanted only cooked vegetables. Someone on the thirty-days-in-the-cabin post asked if he/she could bring the Bible on an iPad so other reading materials would be available. 
My questions were meant to see if God was imperative. The subtle undertones of our hedging–yours and mine–revealed He was merely important.
Is God Enough?
Please don’t misinterpret my example as a reprimand or a holier-than-thou shame-on-you—because I’m right there with you. Unfortunately. I wouldn’t last a day on vegetables only. Cooked or uncooked.
…Unless I had no other food available. What I said before about when our electricity went out…we learned what was important when it was gone.
Rick Warren offered some very wise words on this topic…
The next time I run out of creamer for my coffee, and I think the world has come to an end, perhaps I should ask myself…is God enough? When I can’t afford to buy my grandkids the exact toys they want for Christmas because the budget is tighter this year…is God enough? When the pain is worse today than yesterday or the test results didn’t come back from the doc as we’d hoped…is God enough? When end-of-the-year downsizing mean a New Year’s job search…is our great big God enough?
Only you can answer the question for yourself. And you must answer it again and again with each new situation that arises. As must I.
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NRSV)
Tweet-A-Licious!
- What things are truly imperative to life? Food. Water. Shelter/Clothing. What about God?
- Quoting Rick Warren, “You never know God is all you need until God is all you have.”
- I probed the FB world to see if God was imperative, but the subtle undertone of responses said He was merely important.
Today’s Question:
- In what practical ways can you strengthen your relationship with Jesus, relying on Him to be enough?
Comments 12
Stay safe!!!! Today’s post is a great reminder. I enjoy Rick Warren. A lot of practical and thought provoking questions. Thank you for this. I have been reading in the book of Malachi recently. Our small group just finished going through it. I have found it rather exciting. Looking inward and finding where I can improve and rediscovering Gods mercy and grace in a new way. Have a safe and happy week. Quilty Hugs.
Author
Thank you, dear Lori! Isn’t is a blessing how His holy word can lead to rediscovering His goodness and mercy?
Ice. No electricity. Here in sunny Glendale, Arizona I flipped on the heat this morning because the room temp had fallen below 70. We do rely on many conveniences, not always considering how God has blessed us or asking if he is enough. Thank you for this devotional and for the musical meditation.
Author
Sunny Glendale sounds wonderful about now as we head for another round of winter weather this weekend!
I really mean this: if GOD asked me to live for a month with only those basic needs, even without a million-dollar reward, of course I would! I did in the 80s with a missions team in a remote part of Africa, without phones, electricity or communication; we ran out of some foods, had to fetch our water in a barrel from the well about 500 yards away; then after I begged the Lord for proteins a lady came with a handful of eggs (not knowing I /we needed them!) and horrible crunchy big tree-worms that are protein-filled… but a local staple diet. There were no shops nearby at all and we had no money left because every time we cooked, local men would arrive uninvited to eat with us, thinking we Westerners were rich and had lots of food.
Then for the long long trip back to South Africa a villager came with a live chicken to say ‘goodbye’. So it was slaughtered then boiled on the fire for us to eat while travelling. We thought it was Christmas!
BUT, dear Mesu, if you asked me to do it again I just don’t know. 66 now! Veges ok, clean water, a toilet – not a hole in the ground with a few bamboo sticks around it – a cabin, (not a tent), being alone with Him… yes. He IS all I / we need. And the dollars would be more than enough for the rest of my life, with lots given away 🤪
Author
Oh my, Jenny, that sounds like a once in a lifetime experience in Africa! There are definitely things that are easier when we are younger, that may me one of them!
Oh, Mesu, 13 days without water or electricity due to a catastrophic ice storm. I can relate! That’s an experience I’d rather not repeat. But a cabin for 30 days with Him? Sign me up. Veggies are fine😊 Time to read the Bible, reflect and pray. That it s a priceless opportunity.
Author
Wouldn’t that be an amazing time to draw closer to Him!
We had a snow storm in Illinois last week. The snow brought down the power lines. At 3:00 in the morning there was a huge green flash in the sky and then a large orange ball. I later found out that a transmitter had blown. We had no heat or electricity for a day. The temperature was in the 20’s and our house temperature was at 55 degrees. We wore hats, afghans and whatever else we could find. Found some flashlights and candles. Our doggie kept us warm too. Our stove has an electric start, so good things I had some matches to light the gas to heat up some coffee and tea. I was concerned about our food in the refrigerator, as I had gone shopping recently and stocked up. I didn’t want to open the door to let the cold air out. Sitting in the dark, I contemplated how spoiled we are and how much we take for granted. We are truly blessed as a country. When there are no electronic gadgets to occupy our time, we have time to just think and enjoy some peace and quiet. I was so glad that the electricity went on, as the temperature was going down to 16 degrees the next day. First thing that I did was praise God for his goodness and mercy and thank Him.
Author
Yes Kathy, those Midwest snow storms can be brutal! Glad the food was all preserved and you managed to stay somewhat warm. Praises to our good God!
We have the same situation without power and we adapt. I learned the hard way, that filling bathtubs with water prior to storms helps just don’t forget to turn off the water. Once we were without power in the city for two weeks after a hurricane. It actually gave us time to play board games and lots of conversation. I can get pretty resourceful but God is one resource I cannot live without. Dinner tonight was all vegetables 🤗.
Author
Oh my, Daphne! Two weeks?? My resourcefulness may have run out after that long! So thankful for a loving and providing God!