Enough!

Enough. It’s such a simple word. We use the word all the time and hardly think about it’s significance. For the most part, we use the word ‘enough’ to describe some sort of target or limit. When compared to the limit we have in mind, we say that we have more than enough, or perhaps not quite enough.

Sometimes the limits we measure relate to pain or weariness. When I’ve exercised to the point of exhaustion, I say that I’ve had enough. As kids we would often wrestle until someone reached their pain limit and cried, “Uncle!” It’s just another way of saying “That’s enough! I can’t take anymore.”

As humans we prefer to know our limits. It’s easier to endure if we know ahead of time how much we can take. But what about when limits are unknown? We just have to keep pressing forward and hope we survive. So it is with pain and grief.

A couple weeks ago I attended the funeral of our dear cousin Sheryl. Six months ago we buried our nineteen year old son Elijah. Most recently we said our final goodbyes to Melanie’s dad, affectionately known as Grandpa Dave. I think we’re past our limits of sadness and tears.

At some point God says, “Enough!” He is our Deliverer, and He delights in rescuing us. From Psalm 50:15, God says “call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.“

If that’s not amazing enough, God does something even better than just declare an end to the trouble. He turns the bad into good. He produces a garden where there was wilderness. He brings water to the wasteland.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

So how can God restore the losses we’ve endured.  How can he turn our sorrow into a blessing when we have so many horrible milestones yet to endure. I cannot even talk about facing the one year anniversary of Elijah’s death without tearing up. It will be the most difficult day of the year for our family, and I am already “crying uncle”!

But never underestimate the goodness of our God! When He declares, “Enough!”, He doesn’t just stop our suffering. He replaces it with joy. The following announcement was shared today on Facebook from our daughter Brittany and her husband Eddie Kirsch.

As many of you already know, our brother Elijah went missing the day after Thanksgiving last year. After 2 weeks, we found that he had passed away. This last holiday season was especially difficult for my family and me. But throughout all of the sadness and heartache, God was always there and his graciousness and love remained constant. God has continually found ways to show us that He is with us, even during tragedy.

And God continues to amaze …EXACTLY one year from the day we lost my brother, Eddie and I will be expecting our first baby, a boy. God has turned our grieving into celebration and the death of my brother into new life. His love and compassion are never ending and His timing is always perfect.

Who else but God himself can take our most painful day and turn it into one of our most celebrated days?

Brittany and Eddie Kirsch

Please ‘like’ and ‘share’ this post as you find it helpful and inspiring. Thank you.

-Ken Buchanan