Enough is Enough! By Jon Lewis

A Deeper Understanding of Enough

Today, let me share a new insight that reveals the significance of God, which is more than enough regardless of all we might be facing in life.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10

This is one of my favorite Bible verses. It reminds me frequently of the supremacy of God and the ultimate success of the global mission endeavors in which I am engaged. Recently, I came across this verse during my devotional time and reflected again on its application today, especially in the life and work of a leader.

Consulting the NIV Study Bible, I was surprised to see that the Hebrew word for “be still” was harpu, which means to “stop“ or “cease.” The notes also said it was related to another Hebrew word, here, used in 1 Samuel 15:16. Here, we find the prophet Samuel halted King Saul’s excuses for not fully obeying God’s commands in his fight against the Amalekites. In this case, the best English translation is “Enough!”

Helpful Illustration

I spent my first fourteen years growing up in Portugal as the son of missionary parents. One local expression I vividly remember hearing parents shout to their rowdy children was “cale-te.” It means “shut up.” Picture an exasperated father driving his family somewhere with a back seat full of small children, creating a disturbing ruckus as they argue over the best road. He turns around and yells, “Cale-te! Stop! Be quiet! That’s enough! I’m in charge here and know where I’m going!”

This picture gives me a new and entirely different perspective on how a leader might think of “being still” in Psalm 46:10. Far from being an encouragement to spend time in peaceful, contemplative meditation (which is a good thing to do, too,) this appears to be a sharp reprimand. It is a call to quit focusing on distracting peripheral anxieties or ungodly personal aspirations and get our eyes back on Jesus.

Recentered Focus

So what things might preoccupy a leader today who needs to heed this biblical warning of “Enough!” How about too much concern over where the next major donor gift will come from? Or wondering if the development department will make its target before the end of the fiscal year? Then, there are the nagging concerns about our nation’s political or cultural future and how that might affect our ministry work. I haven’t begun to list the anxieties that can easily accompany personal concerns about how others view our leadership role, such as our current approval rating among our board of directors.

Where in your leadership life do you need a prophet like Samuel to shout “Enough” or “Cale-te?” Or perhaps you need a psalmist to remind you to put aside preoccupying concerns and be still long enough to get your eyes and ears back to the One in the driver’s seat. If, in our leadership roles, we are indeed striving to be faithful stewards, then we will do whatever helps us hear the Master say,

“I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on earth.“

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Jon Lewis is a Senior Associate for Partnership Advancement with OC International. He focuses on encouraging global Christian leaders to be more effective in ministry. With over 40 years of experience, he has served as an MAF mission pilot in Africa and as CEO of Partners International.

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