One fair afternoon, I made myself a nice cup of coffee and settled down in my cozy spot overlooking the marina. I felt a wave of contentment wash over me as I sipped my coffee and ate pieces of almond thins. Whether it was the caffeine coursing through my body or the tranquil surroundings, my heart felt peaceful and at rest. In that moment, the question of “what is enough” suddenly sprang to mind.

You might be familiar with the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty years, during which God provided manna throughout their entire time in the desert until they reached the Promised Land. This was a supernatural work of God’s providence and nourishment for His people. While we know the famous Exodus story, I would like my readers to look again at the following Scripture, which might shed light on what it means “to be enough” from a Christian perspective.

“These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed” (Exodus 16:16-18, NLT).

The Israelites were very hungry and exhausted in the wilderness. We can imagine the whole Israelite camp going out in full force to gather this manna when it first appeared on the desert ground. They couldn’t wait to stuff the manna into their mouths, thinking about how to prepare it to fill their rumbling stomachs. Naturally, each household gathered as much as they could and brought the manna back to their tents. The part that strikes me is: “when they measured it out, everyone had just enough.” Whoa! What? Do you get the image? The verse does not end there; it continues to tell us that those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. There you go again. They had enough! They had ample! They had sufficient! They had abundance! They had a bellyful of God’s providence! And it was not only for one day or two weeks or even for one year, but throughout their entire journey in the wilderness!

What “manna” are you waiting for from God today? Are you perhaps quite content with your life at the moment? Or have you been praying for God to intervene, to heal, to mend, to restore, to refresh, to provide direction, etc.? Please do not lose heart; our God is still a God who works miracles in the lives of His children today. So, how do we receive this daily “manna,” ensuring we have “enough,” just as the Israelites did? From the above verses, I have gathered some revelations.

Like the Israelites, they believed wholeheartedly that each morning manna would supernaturally appear on the desert ground; all they needed to do was pick it up and make it into food. Whether they gathered much or little, they did not lack. Let us also trust God to know what is necessary in our lives. Let us live today believing that God not only provides for our needs but also protects us divinely (whether we know it or not), enters into our brokenness, and forgives our sins without condemning us or keeping records of our wrongdoings. We can rely on God because He is faithful and loving, and He will never leave us or forsake us. Seek the Lord daily, like manna—the bread of life—and you will experience His abundant grace. Don’t let the future steal your peace. Instead, live one day at a time.

We believe and worship a God whose presence is real in our lives, and He is still at work in yours and mine daily. We are far more precious than the wildflowers in the field. If God pays attention to the wildflowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you think He will turn His ears to listen to your prayers and move mountains for you?

The concept of “enough” varies greatly from one person to another. It spans the breadth of human existence, encompassing cultures, traditions, education, and philosophies. It is a deeply personal matter that evolves over time and through different experiences. Before I sign off, I want to leave you with the following verse to ponder. It is also a verse that I remind myself of whenever I face a challenging situation, and it goes like this:

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

– Matthew 6:34 The Message