Enough time. Enough intelligence. Enough strength. Enough money. Concern with having enough is often a recurring theme. But how much is enough? When do we know our quest for enough is complete?

The word complete contains a clue. Each of us, as the children of God, is always complete, because we coexist with our Father-Mother, who continuously and reliably meets our needs. Not just some of them. Not just some of the time. This arresting statement has taught me a lot about how and when God meets our needs: "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, p. 494). That doesn't refer to future needs alone, urging trust in God with no precedent. Rather, it relates also to the past; whenever any human need has been met, it has always been evidence of divine Love's provision, regardless of how the help has come.

When the need for care and nourishment is met by a mother, the need for supply is provided by a job, or the need for ideas for a project is answered, this provision points to God's care in action, meeting needs in the way that will bless one and all the most. There's no limit to the amount of goodness—strength, supply, wisdom, support—that any individual can experience when that goodness comes from God. God holds back none of His care and greatness. What may happen, however, is that we don't claim all the benefits that are due His children; we often settle for much less than the abundance of God's blessings.

I learned an important lesson recently about what it means to have enough. For a number of years, I had felt that my residence was far from being enough. I lived in an area where few housing options existed, however, and every time I considered relocating or building, it was clear that those actions weren't right for me to pursue. Nevertheless, my need for better accommodations increased. Delayed maintenance began to catch up with the rental unit I occupied, and its tiny storage space was maxed out. But then I remembered the basic truth mentioned above. I knew God had always met my needs and would always do so. And I knew in this case that my need was not really for a bigger, properly maintained house; my need was deeper than that. I needed to claim my place in the kingdom of God. Unless I did that, not even a palace would satisfy my longing for rest and home.

I found help in this passage from the Bible: "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes" (Isa. 54:2). While I could not push out the walls or windows where I lived, I could open my thinking. I determined to embrace my little home every day in my prayers, filling it with the light of fresh inspiration and furnishing it with spiritual qualities such as gratitude, grace, and peace. Every day I protected it, too. Paraphrasing a favorite hymn, I declared that angels of God's presence keep calm watch by day and night (see Christian Science Hymnal, No. 3). While I still wanted a proper home, the restlessness and resentment were gradually replaced by a more settled sense of God's presence in my life.

Following such a thorough mental housecleaning, I couldn't possibly have a cramped or unpleasant home—and I didn't. Then just a few weeks later, a lovely house unexpectedly became available, and those in charge were as delighted to assign it to me as I was to receive it. Thanks to assistance from friends and dedicated professional workmen, the move was completed in a matter of days. But the lesson did not end there. I was, of course, delighted with the beautiful patio overlooking the river, with the flowerbeds I love to tend, with a brand-new kitchen, and with lots of windows to let in fresh air. More significantly, however, I realized I had what a friend used to call "overflow"—far more space than I needed. So I have been able to offer accommodations to others who need temporary lodging. How characteristic of God's provision. God isn't stingy; He gives with an open hand.

Giving is just as important as receiving in relation to having enough. The Biblical account of Christ Jesus feeding the multitude illustrates this lesson. Matthew's Gospel relates its happening twice (see chaps. 14:15–21 and 15:32–38). And the Hebrew prophet Elisha fed 100 men (see II Kings 4:42–44). Commentators often speculate about how such events were physically possible. But that's the point exactly: physicality, or matter, was not the deciding factor in these cases. Divine Love, not matter, met and satisfied the needs in each of these instances. The material circumstances were incidental. The basketfuls that were left over when Jesus fed the multitudes indicate the abundance with which God meets our needs. He equips us not just to have enough for ourselves but to have enough to share.

Because God's love is infinite, it enfolds every person, animal, and element in the universe. There is good enough to go around; there is good enough to share.