To enable is a good thing. It really is. Just see for yourself in the definitions.

Oxford Dictionary: enable something to make it possible for something to happen or exist by creating the necessary conditions

KJV Dictionary Definition:

  1. To make able; to supply with power, physical or moral; to furnish with sufficient power or ability. By strength, a man is enabled to work. Learning and industry enable men to investigate the laws of nature. Fortitude enables us to bear pain without murmuring.
  2. To supply with means. Wealth enables men to be charitable, or to live in luxury.
  3. To furnish with legal ability or competency; to authorize. The law enables us to dispose of our property by will.
  4. To furnish with competent knowledge or skill, and in general, with adequate means.

The Great Enabler

God the Father has supplied us with all the means necessary to discover who He is.

On a grand scale, He sustains the necessary conditions enabling life to exist in all its forms.

He gave us science to heal our bodies, the technology and resources to power the planet, the intellect to figure how to do it, even enabling us to visit other planets, albeit virtually for now. Hello, Mars.

Joyology 101 woman's hand on an open bibleHe furnished the guidebook of knowledge and truth. God’s word is a divine record and foundation for faith bound together in one volume. Something we can carry in our hands, minds, and in our hearts.

We have the means to do fantastic things because the Father is our enabler. Yes, that’s right, I’m calling God an enabler.

As we can see, God furnishes us with competent knowledge, skill, and adequate means to discover all that He has planned for us (Jerimiah 29:11). The choice in how to use these gifts is up to each of us, which is also a gift.

When did being an enabler become a bad thing?

An Internet search reveals that the use of “enabler” in print rose an astonishing 2,500 percent from 1960 to 2000, undoubtedly fueled by the popularity of this negative meaning. (Rob Kyff, July 2016, Trib Live)

The process of changing word meanings is called a semantic shift. It happens over time, and there are several types of shifts. In the case of enabler, we see a pejoration shift resulting in the downgrading of its meaning. It has shifted from a positive to a negative connotation. Now enabler highlights human weaknesses instead of strength, provision, and goodness, as it once did.

Merriam-Webster defines Enabler as one that enables another to achieve an end
especiallyone who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (such as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior.

Are these revised semantics important when we know the truth about our Great Enabler God? The first part of the above definition, “one that enables another to achieve an end,” is positive, and maybe we should stop there dwelling on the good things God has already done (John 3:16) and the promises of what He will do (Hebrews 9:28).

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.
–Philippians 4:8 (CEV)

All things considered, conduct your own examination, and I think you’ll come around to my way of thinking. Set our definitions of ENABLE and what I’ve already stated above about God’s provision side-by-side. It’s easy to see how they match. We have a Great ENABLER God looking after us.

two women lying on hammock

Making it personal

On a smaller, more personal scale, God creates tiny life vignettes. Opportunities for perfect moments turned into joyful memories we carry with us until eternity. Memories to encourage, remind, share, and make us smile. Points of light in our lives resulting in joy and gratitude bearing His fingerprints.

God cares for us in all the big and little ways to do all the big and little things.

Enjoy it.

Joy reflections

Spend some time reflecting on those points of light in your life and thank God for them. Thank Him that you lived them and that they are still with you, residing in your memories to revisit any time you need to, or just for fun. Pause. Smile.

 

Click this link to see more posts from the Joyology 101 series.

This post is part of the #Write28Days Writing Challenge. Thanks to our host, Anita Ojeda, over at Inspire Me Mondays. The writing prompt for today is ENABLE. I’m also posting this on the Five Minute Fridays linkup this week.

Resources
KJV Dictionary
Oxford Lerner’s Dictionaries
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Rob Kyff, TribLive, When ‘good’ words break bad, July 29, 2016
Richard Nordquist, ThougtCo., How the Meanings of Words Change-Generalization, Specialization, Amelioration, and Pejoration, October 5, 2018
Photo credits by Unsplash.com
Girls in hammock Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash