Once upon a time a rich young ruler comes to Jesus. This man had everything: money, power, youth. Maybe he was even not-too-bad looking.

But even though it seemed like he had everything anyone could want–he knew he was missing something.

He came to Jesus with a burning question

“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

This young man knew that the things he had wouldn’t last forever. He needed eternal life.

Jesus gave the searching man a rather standard answer: Follow the commandments. Don’t murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Honor your father and mother.

The young man thought: Good. I’ve got this. He told Jesus, “I’ve done all those things since I was a boy.”

But Jesus knew there was one thing that was holding the man back from the life he really wanted. There was one thing that was distracting him from his real life. So Jesus looked at the young man and said:

“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

The rich young ruler went away despondent. Because this was the one thing he could not do.

I totally get that young man. Not that I’m rich. Or powerful. Even youth has pretty much passed me by. But there have often been things in my life that have distracted me from my real life–the amazing, beautiful life that Jesus wants me to have. Sometimes Jesus has asked me to surrender things I held tightly–in order to wholeheartedly follow Him.

And often I have been exactly like that man that met Jesus. I have said no. I’ve hung onto whatever I thought it was I couldn’t live without. Music career. Pursuit of dream house. Wanting family close.

But when I’ve hung onto those dreams, those desires–I discovered that didn’t actually make me happier. They only pulled me away from Christ. I couldn’t follow Jesus closely because I was dragging around the weight of my own will, my own expectations.

Usually I come to my senses and realize that a life of following Jesus is better than any other path. I eventually release that one thing that is holding me back from the life I really want–the life God has planned for me.

What are holding onto? If Jesus spoke to you and said, “You lack one thing. Go and surrender _________” What would that one thing be?

If Jesus spoke to you and said, 'You lack one thing. Go and surrender __________' What would that one thing be? Share on X

It’s always difficult to surrender things we hold dear. But there is one phrase in Mark’s account of the rich young ruler that makes it a bit easier.

Mark wrote “Jesus, looking at him, loved him” (Mark 10:21).

When I struggle to surrender whatever God is asking me to let go, I remember Jesus’ love. I picture Him–looking at me with eyes of love–holding out His hands to take whatever burdens He has asked me to relinquish.

Jesus doesn’t ask me to release my desires or my possessions because He wants to make me miserable. He asks me to release them because, in His love, He knows the one thing that is keeping me from the life I really want.

Next step: If Jesus spoke to you and said, “You lack one thing. Go and surrender _________” What would that one thing be? Spend a few minutes basking in Jesus’ love for you. Then write a prayer surrendering that one thing–the one thing that is keeping you from the life you really want.

In this world we struggle and strive, convinced that we can only be content if we have more. But we can only find enough in the God of sufficiency.

If you would like to learn more about finding enough, check out my brand new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency! 

A study of the parable of the rich fool, it will help you discover:

• enough money
• enough stuff
• enough food
• enough relationships
• enough time
• enough of me

You can find out more about it here. And order it here and here!

This post is an excerpt from my new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency. Learn better question than “Does it spark joy?”

“Oh, say can you see…” The toy in the backseat sang out the national anthem for the 101st time. We felt we would go crazy if we heard it 102 times.

It was Christmas time—that joyous season of consumerism. Three days before the non-stop recital of “The Star-Spangled Banner” my husband and I had packed up our four-year-old daughter and almost two-year-old son in our little fire-engine red Nissan Sentra to drive from our home in Illinois to see grandparents in Wisconsin.

Grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren and how could I limit their joy? But that year the abundance of gifts became overwhelming. It was the year my younger sister worked at a toy factory. She–and my parents–had the opportunity to buy quality wooden toys at factory discounts. Grandma and Grandpa bought my children wooden blocks, dominoes, train sets, and puzzles. One puzzle contained all fifty of the U.S. states and played the national anthem when the puzzle was completed. “How cute,” we thought when our daughter opened the gift.

But when the time came to go home, not all the toys would fit in the small Sentra trunk. So, we stacked the extras in the back seat between the car seats with the United States puzzle on the top of the pile. However, we didn’t realize the chip that played “The Star-Spangled Banner” was light sensitive and the puzzle piece that covered the chip had moved off in the shuffle of packing. Every time a semi passed us, its lights cued up the anthem. I couldn’t reach the puzzle from the front seat and the kids had fallen asleep so we didn’t want to stop. As much as we love our national anthem, we quickly grew tired of it. If a convoy of trucks zoomed by, the song would start over with each pair of headlights. “Oh say can you…Oh say can…Oh say…” It was the purgatory of patriotism.

While I vividly remember that United States puzzle, I also recall the sheer number of toys our children received that Christmas. When we finally got home, it took us days to find places to store them because, truthfully, the toy box was already full. We appreciated my parents’ generosity and our kids loved all the new playthings, but it became the beginning of too much stuff.

Many of us have an addiction to stuff. We want to buy it. We like to own it. We need to store it. Why do we feel this need for things? Part of this desire certainly stems from living in a materialistic society. Advertisements tell us that we deserve a better watch. That our loved ones will only appreciate us if they receive a diamond necklace. That our significance is entirely dependent on the type of car we drive.

And yet, the more stuff we have, the more it may actually weigh down our souls and our minds. Psychologists have found that unchecked clutter in our homes can lead to depression and anxiety. UCLA researchers discovered stress hormones spiked in the brains of mothers when they dealt with their belongings. Those stress chemicals (which often result from disorganization) eat up the beneficial chemicals in our brains that stabilize our emotions. Every single thing we own can add a heaviness to our tired soul.

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Instead of “Does It Spark Joy?” Ask This Question

Most of us realize this burden of excess on our minds and souls. And yet we have trouble getting rid of our stuff. What to keep? What to discard? A very popular book titled The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (not a book I recommend, by the way) suggests holding up each item you own and asking yourself, “Does it spark joy?” This can be a useful question. Yes, my favorite gray cardigan sparks joy. It fits me well. It keeps me warm. It coordinates with many of my other clothes. On the other hand, the red satin top I bought to go with one of my blazers does not spark joy. It’s beautiful but didn’t actually work with the intended blazer and doesn’t look good with anything else I own. I should get rid of it, but I paid a lot of money for it and I feel I should wear it at least once. That item only sparks regret.

“Does it spark joy?” can be a practical assessment, but I would like to suggest an even better question would be, “How does this item affect my soul—does it draw me closer to the God of sufficiency or does it pull me away?” This question will require some careful thought. For instance, a classic car could be seen as something that pulls the owner away from God. It requires large sums of money and weekends filled with maintenance tasks. Working on the car could isolate the owner from his family and keep him from attending Sunday services. On the other hand, a pair of hiking boots could be seen as an item which draws the owner closer to God. When she wears the boots, she is experiencing nature and witnessing God’s glorious creation. Her heart fills with praise for the Lord of the universe.

But the opposite could be true as well. Perhaps the classic car owner uses the hours spent maintaining his vehicle as quality time with his son or daughter in their shared interest. Maybe he takes this prized possession to classic car shows designed to spark conversations about Jesus to the unchurched. And the owner of the hiking boots? Maybe she’s the one missing church every weekend to visit the great outdoors.

When you begin decluttering or before you purchase something new, determine how each item draws you closer to God or pulls you further away. Does the item weigh down your soul as one more thing to dust and clean? Or does it fill your heart with gratitude each time you see it? Does it pull you away from time with your heavenly Father? Or does it make life easier, giving you more time with the Savior? Is it a useful tool, saving you time or money that can be used for the Kingdom?

In Christ We Find Enough

In Luke 12:29-31, Jesus urges all of us:

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

I read this and hear Jesus telling me:

You don’t have to act like the rest of the world, chasing after things to fill your soul. Rest in the fact that you have a Heavenly Father who sees you and knows exactly what you need. Trust Him in this. Don’t set your heart on material possessions, instead, seek out God’s kingdom—a kingdom where the size of your house or the price of your car has no relevance. I want you to be rich, but rich in things that matter: peace, joy, love. You can’t find these things in a grain elevator or a walk-in closet. They are only found in Me.

In Me you will find enough.

Next step: Next time you are decluttering a closet or considering a new purchase, ask yourself, “Does this item draw me closer to the God of sufficiency or does it pull me away?”

This post is an excerpt from my new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency. Reprinted with permission from Concordia Publishing House.

If you would like to learn more about finding enough, check out my brand new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency!

A study of the parable of the rich fool, it will help you discover:

• enough money
• enough stuff
• enough food
• enough relationships
• enough time
• enough of me

You can find out more about it here. And order it here and here!

For the past couple of years, I have been on a quest to declutter my home and my life. I have longed to find a life uncluttered with unnecessary possessions and obligations. A life with unhampered by destructive attitudes and mindsets. A life without the excess of our current culture.

I want a life not necessarily characterized by minimalism, but a life with “enough.”

This quest has led me to declutter my home. I’m not finished yet, but I’ve tackled my closet, my office, and my bookshelves.

In the process, I’ve researched how best to rid my home of the surplus stuff living in my closets and on my shelves. I’ve discovered that there are different modes of decluttering.

Declutter by Item

With this decluttering style, you will concentrate on one category of possessions at a time. For instance, take all your clothes out of the closets, drawers, and storage bins and sort through them. Which do you want to keep? Which can you toss? Or donate? You may recognize this as the Marie Kondo method of tidying. One disadvantage of this style is that it may make a big mess before you see progress. The advantage? You can see all that you own of that type of item and this may help you make decisions.

Declutter by Project

This decluttering style helps you organize specific areas of your home. Make a list of the cluttered spots like your bedroom dresser, the hall closet, the junk drawer in the kitchen. Get your sorting bins ready: Keep, Toss, and Donate and tackle one area at a time. One drawback of this style may be that it is difficult to see how many like items you have. But this method is easy to do in short pockets of time. It doesn’t require you to devote an entire afternoon to decluttering.

Declutter by Room

If you want to see a quick visible change to your home, you might consider decluttering by room. Take everything out of the room and sort by Keep, Toss, or Donate. Return the Keep items back into the room and toss or donate the rest. This organizing method will give you quick results that may keep you motivated. But it requires large chunks of time.

What decluttering style will work best for you?

I’ve created a quiz to help you find out. Click on the button below to access the quiz. Answer a few questions and you will discover which decluttering method suits you best!

And if you want to learn more about living with “enough,” check out my new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency.

To find out more about decluttering styles check out this post by Lady Decluttered.

This post is an excerpt from my new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency. Learn why you may have a broken “wanter.”

When I was growing up, the Frito-Lay commercial that interrupted my favorite television shows told me, “You can’t eat just one.” And it was true—one potato chip was never enough. I always wanted another—and another—and another.

This insatiable desire for more doesn’t stop with salty snacks. I’m convinced that ever since Adam and Eve gave in to an appetite for forbidden fruit and a thirst to be like God, we have been stuck with broken “wanters.” The part of us that hungers and thirsts and desires developed serious defects in the Fall. Now I possess a wanter that can make me crave a slice of decadent chocolate cheesecake even after I’ve had soup, salad, and an enormous platter of chicken marsala. A wanter that can make me long for those adorable red pumps in the shoe store window even though I have twenty-five pairs of shoes in the closet. Our broken wanters prevent us from attaining enough.

In fact, our wanters are so broken, we sometimes we have difficulty in discerning our true desires. Because of widespread damaged wanters, a new profession has sprung up. For only $300 an hour you can hire a wantologist—someone who will help you distinguish what you really want from what you only think you want. For instance, you might go to a wantology session with a wish for a promotion at work and leave with the realization that what you really want is to quit your job. Because of our broken wanters, we don’t know what will actually satisfy our souls. So, we continually search for the next bauble, the next promotion, the next relationship that promises happiness.

Even more serious, our broken wanters compel us to yearn for wrong things. Our damaged desire factories make us crave Rocky Road ice cream instead of broccoli. Sleep on Sunday mornings seems more appealing than worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Because of our sinful natures, we don’t gravitate toward the wholesome or the virtuous. We continually want more than what God has deemed good.

On our own, we are incapable of achieving enough.

Our heavenly Father must be saddened when we try to meet our needs with our own power. Perhaps He shakes His head when we strive and struggle to obtain the bigger house or the more important job. Satan continually attempts to get us to view God as a miser who reluctantly gives out good things. Or to believe we need to work extra hard to earn them. God wants us to view Him, not as the Big Bad Guy in the sky holding out on us, but as the God of sufficiency.

God makes us capable of longing so we come to Him to fill those longings. He makes us yearn for enough so we learn to trust Him for all we need and desire. Jesus said, “But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” (Luke 12:28). He reproaches our puny faith. But He also invites us to have confidence in the Father who even dresses transitory grass in beautiful colors and feeds tiny, insignificant birds.

The solution to our broken wanters is running to the God of sufficiency.

Next step: Take a moment to write down some of your desires–big and small. Then meet with God and tell Him about these longings. Allow Him to satisfy them in His way and His time.

This post is an excerpt from my new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency. Reprinted with permission from Concordia Publishing House.

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Check out my brand new book Enough for Now: Unpacking God’s Sufficiency!

A study of the parable of the rich fool, it will help you discover:

• enough money
• enough stuff
• enough food
• enough relationships
• enough time
• enough of me

You can find out more about it here. And order it here and here!