Sufficiency in All Things — How one writer describes God’s provision for a calling

# Summary

Soon after he began following Jesus, Max Lucado felt called to write Christian books. He sent a manuscript to fifteen publishers and received fourteen rejections. A single acceptance launched his writing ministry, which has continued for more than forty years and resulted in nearly fifty books. Lucado presents his story as an example of God's provision: if God calls you, he will equip you and give you what you need when you need it.

# The arc of the story

He states the lesson plainly: trust God. He connects his experience to a scriptural promise: "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV).

# Why this matters to readers

If you are discerning a creative or vocational call, Lucado's story offers a practical pattern:

• Expect setbacks. Early rejections do not disprove a calling.
• Be alert for singular opportunities. One acceptance can change everything.
• Rely on providence rather than on final outcomes alone. The story frames success as something that arrives when provision and calling align.

# Practical takeaways

• Persist through rejection. Sending work to multiple publishers is a normal part of early writing careers.
• Keep producing material. Lucado notes he seems to have more book ideas than time, implying steady idea generation matters for sustained output.
• Center trust on a source larger than immediate feedback. The piece directs readers to depend on God's timing and equipping.

# Theological anchor

Lucado cites 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV) as the biblical basis for his confidence in provision. He reads this verse as a promise that God provides "all sufficiency in all things" so a person can have "an abundance for every good work." The verse functions as both explanation and encouragement for readers who face doubt about resources or readiness.

# Brief note on tone and purpose

The piece is devotional and testimonial rather than instructional or technical. Its purpose is encouragement: to reassure readers that calling and equipping can align over time, even after discouraging starts.

# Quick action steps for readers

• Identify one task you've delayed because of fear or rejection and take a small, concrete step this week (submit, revise, or ask for feedback).

• Reflect on the verse cited and compare it with your experience of provision: where have resources arrived just in time?

# Closing

Lucado's short account distills an experience many creatives share: repeated rejection, a pivotal yes, and a long career that the author attributes to timely provision. The takeaway is practical and direct: if God calls you, he will equip you.