A Healthy Portion

I'm a mashed potatoes fan. I can't help it. I think it's actually in my DNA, and I might have asked a scientist or two if that's possible. I don't really discriminate against a potato unless it's instant. Which is not, in fact, a potato. There's really no time when I can imagine having enough mashed potatoes. They fill me as though I have a separate stomach dedicated to them. My mashed potato portion size will always cause someone to judge me at the dinner table. Depending on how hungry I am, what I'm craving, what I've done that day, my needs are quite different. But my mashed potato portion is always the same - plenty. 

Lamentations 3:24 (CSB) reads, "I say, 'The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.'"

And I'm struck by that word: portion. Because, if I'm honest, He doesn't always seem like enough. I cling to these other structures in my life - my church. my husband. my schedule. my parents. And they're all good things, but when they replace the Lord.....their purpose is tainted. These structures, these foundations - they are a part of the portion that the Lord has provided for me! He graciously gave me parents who I can (and do) call whenever I need them. He graciously gave me a husband who is indeed my best friend. He provided us with jobs that allowed us to actually see one another's face for several years. Our schedule - while packed and busy - was easy, because we had each other. The Lord gave these things to me. And because I'm just that nice, to repay Him, I took all of those things and slowly found ways that they could replace Him. Have a need? Pray. Call your parents. Lonely? Read God's letter to you. Go to a friend's house and watch TV. Exhausted? Rest in Him and His word. Watch Netflix until 2 am.

I recently read a quote from Margaret Feinberg: "Sometimes God removes what we've become dependent on to take His place back as our main source." And my first thought was, "Bet she can't back that up with scripture." And of course, she did. She reminded me of the Israelites, who were given many DAILY so that they couldn't forget the source of their portion. 

The LORD. He is my portion. He's plenty, and yet provides so far beyond my basic needs. He even fulfills some of my wants. As I delight in Him, and my desires become His, He is happy to fill those desires. Read that verse from Lamentations one more time: I say, "The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him." If I say it, then I've got to live by it. If the Lord is my portion, my everything, my fulfillment, then I can and will put all future hope in Him. And He'll be faithful, as He always is. He can't not be. He's great that way. 

Have you put your hope in something other than God? Did it hold up? In my recent experiences, I'll go ahead and answer for you: NO. Nothing is quite as firm a foundation as the Lord. His provisions may come in the way of healing, or sending a friend your way, or providing a listening ear, but none of those things in itself is greater than the God who has provided them. Let Him be enough, and you'll be filled to overflowing. 

and because I can't share a blogpost without mentioning a song......have a listen. He is enough, even if He doesn't remove our pain, our hurt, our sickness, our stress. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKECQ86XexM