Be content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6.

Come to Me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life…Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near…Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously. Isaiah 55: 3, 6-7.

The first Scripture referenced above was from Hearing God by Dallas Willard. At the end of the devotional in a closing prayer, he wrote: “Consider this phrase: God remains with us and His presence is enough by itself. If God were to ask you, “Am I enough?” what would be your honest answer? Talk to God about this. If you wish, ask God what the next step would be in letting Him be enough.” I included that in this blog because events are unfolding in our own lives personally and in our world that we need to understand with God’s help. And it is His presence, Him, that is enough and that will bring the healing we all need. We can all learn from the confusion the disciples felt as Jesus the Son stripped away false self-righteousness so that what remained after the confusion was the truth that Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit IS, and He knows as we don’t all that is needed in us and for us. And Peter shares that in our chapter, 1 Peter 4. Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

We see events happening in the context of the times we live in, and how can we not? Remember, our faithful Creator God does what is right and needed and good always. I wondered at – for the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. We don’t comprehend all that our God is doing. But His Presence is enough by itself. More and more I am learning that God’s covenantal love is the covenant we live in with His help. Can we let go of our own ideas of perfection that are grounded in our own self-righteousness? Above all – keep fervent in your love for one another – because love covers a multitude of sins. The disciples while they were with Him, could not at first understand God’s love for them and for the Gentiles who had never even known God. So when those of the Jews, who accepted the Gentiles and then worshiped God together with them inevitably suffered as a new people, Christians – Peter is telling them not to be ashamed, but to glorify God in this name. Because God is doing a good and needed work for all of us. There is so much we need to understand. God does not turn away from the people we turn away from. Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. There is a suffering, too, as we realize we don’t hold all the answers and that we ourselves need the correction only God can bring into our lives so that we can enter into the wonderful covenant of His love for us and our love for Him and His children dearly loved. Think of how shocking it was for the disciples to unlearn everything they held dear – and begin to learn from Jesus. Think of the shock when He was crucified. Think of the beginning of understanding as He came to them after He rose from the dead because death could not hold Him. The Gospel of God. “God remains with us and His Presence is enough by itself.” Is that enough? That is everything!