T.D. Stubblefield Ministries LLC

During a recent school-shopping trip, our seven-year-old granddaughter asked, “What’s the budget?” Her grandmother asked, “Why do you want to know?” She replied, “I want to know if I spent enough!” Her financial savvy brought a smile to my face. But then I thought: How often do we relate to God as though He operates on a budget?

Sometimes we imagine God’s response to our needs is measured and limited. But God does not operate on the Budget Plan! His goodness is inexhaustible. Paul declares in Ephesians 3:20 that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” David understood this when he said, “My cup runneth over.”

So, when you come to God, don’t ask, “What’s the budget?” Remember: With God, there is no limit, just overflow!

Before a recent road trip, my wife insisted I buy a pair of glasses designed to fit over my prescription lenses—glasses that reduce glare and make it easier to see at night, especially when the road is wet. With only token resistance, I made the purchase. To my surprise, they worked just as advertised. What once looked distorted and blinding suddenly became clear. The glare was still there—but it no longer controlled what I could see. It made me think of Psalm 139:11, where the writer declares, “even the night shall be light about me.” Life has its moments of glare—difficulty, disappointment, and distress that can cloud our vision and make the path ahead uncertain. But the presence of God becomes the lens through which we see differently. The darkness may not disappear, but it no longer has the final say. When God is with you, even what feels like night can become light.

Recently I received a notice from the bank that my account balance was running low. Thankfully, I wasn’t alarmed because our checking account is linked to a line of credit that provides overdraft protection. In 2 Corinthians 3:5, the Apostle Paul acknowledges his own limitations but reminds us that “our sufficiency is from God.” Sooner or later, life will present a bill that is more than we can pay. And if we try to cover it with our own resources, the check will surely bounce. Paul understood that in every crisis or contingency, his life and ministry were backed by God’s unlimited grace—divine overdraft protection. The question is: when life’s demands exceed your supply, are you relying on your resources, or God’s?