Is It Enough?

Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: MATTHEW 18:20; ROMANS 12:9-18; EPHESIANS 3:14-21

"Is it enough?” The question rolled around in my brain as I drove home. A family in our church was experiencing a number of medical problems, so a few of us went to their house to pray with them, bring a meal for us to eat together, and share communion.

“Is what we did enough?” I asked myself on my drive home. Suddenly, the answer sprang to life in my mind, bringing a smile to my lips and easing the tension in my shoulders.

Of course it wasn’t enough. I laughed at myself. Because of course, it was never meant to be enough. Nothing we do as the church is ever meant to be enough.

Instead, we point to the One who is enough.

I can’t solve all the problems in the world. I can’t remove all the suffering. And that’s not my job. It’s not your job either. But it is my job, through my presence, my words, and my actions, to point people to Jesus and His love for them. And it’s also my job to let myself be pointed to Jesus by the presence, words, and actions of my siblings in Christ—the church.

And this is only possible because Jesus has already done enough. Jesus—God in human flesh—lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again from the dead to save us from sin and death. If we’ve put our trust in Him, He lives in us through the Holy Spirit. And one day, He will return to resurrect us from the dead and destroy all sin, suffering, hurt, and death forever.

There’s nothing I can do to add to what He has already done. And resting in that truth frees me to let go of my arrogant, “I-can-fix-all-your-problems” attitude and instead enter into the lives of others with humility, weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice. Together, we can throw ourselves into Jesus’s loving arms, trusting Him to care for us.

And that’s enough. • Taylor Eising

• Can you remember a time when others pointed you to Jesus through their presence, words, or actions when you were going through a hard time? What was it like?

• Is anyone in your life struggling right now? If you’re ready, you can spend some time in prayer, asking Jesus to show you how to show them His love.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:10 (NLT)