He is Enough: Lessons from my "Abide" Year

Most days in ministry (and by that I mean every day) I feel a lot like Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, saying “I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom…” (1 Cor 2: 3-4).

I often feel weak in ministry, I don’t know all the right “things” to say, I make mistakes, I flounder and fall. I am afraid of not being perfect for those I minister to and failing to love them well; and most days I sit down for my prayer time just asking Jesus what the heck He called ME to this mission for.

And He always responds in the same way. He doesn’t chastise me for my fears or questions. He doesn’t tell me to step away for someone else who is more learned and mature to lead the way. He tells me to look at Him. To look at His Sacred Heart and bleeding body on the Cross that gives me life. And says, as He does to St Paul, to “know nothing except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).

To know nothing except the name of Jesus.

To know nothing except the gift of His sacrifice, and what He has done to save and redeem me. That anything else, any “lofty words of wisdom” would actually empty the Cross of its power.

Jesus says that His Name is enough. To be close to Him; engrafted to Him as a branch is to a Vine, is enough. To proclaim a relationship with Him, to simply walk with people to encounter Him the foot of His Cross, that is all He asks of me.

All the ways I feel like I’m not perfect enough, not strong enough, not learned enough, not worthy enough or simply not enough cannot empty the Cross of its power when I keep my eyes on Him. When I stay close to Him. When I abide in His love.

Abiding is the only option. Abiding IS what He asks. Because HE is the answer. Anything other, anything else, cannot ever and will not ever satisfy.

Jesus, Yours is the victory. Yours is the Name above all names. It is an honour to serve in your Vineyard.