When We Don’t Have Enough:
Living with a Mindset of Abundance
by Lauri Hawley
Do you often feel as though something is missing in your life?
Whether it’s talent, time, strength, energy, creativity, or relationships, we all have an area or two of our lives that seem to be short on resources. We assume if we could just have enough __________, life would be so much better!
This focus on what we don’t have goes all the way back to dear Eve’s disastrous dilemma. God had provided her and Adam with everything they could ever need, but Eve’s eye was drawn to the one thing she thought she was missing. She listened to the cunning voice of the serpent and decided that God was keeping something from her. By focusing on getting what she didn’t have, she lost her innocence, her home, and so much more.
In today’s culture, this might look like chasing the proverbial carrot of acclaim for a job well done. Our efforts may always seem to fall short, so we work even harder for longer hours to the detriment of our families and personal health. We lose sight of everything God has done for us, because all we can see is the lack of regard we perceive from bosses and coworkers.
The Scarcity Mindset
Having a scarcity mindset is nothing new, as it’s been written in our DNA ever since that fateful day in the garden of Eden. The seeds of discontent have continued to sprout throughout history as humanity repeats the cycle of focusing on what we don’t have.
Consider the Israelites, who had grumbled multiple times about a lack of resources during their time of wandering in the wilderness. They complained about not having food or water, and they expected to die in the desert (see Exodus 16:3; 17:2). Even after God provided manna, they still complained that it wasn’t what they wanted. “They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’” (Numbers 21:5).
Not much has changed in the centuries since that biblical story played out. We often miss seeing the abundant resources we already possess because our eyes are trained for what we don’t have enough of, or what we don’t have at all. Our perceived lack is an easy target for Satan’s arrows of fear and doubt, leaving us unsure about our purpose and our future.
Living in Abundance
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
When Jesus promised us life in abundance, he wasn’t talking about giving us a great number of possessions or even a big dollar amount in our bank account. He didn’t guarantee us an easy life without conflict or trouble, and he didn’t say that in following him we would become the most talented, prolific creators this world would ever see!
Well then, what did he promise?
- Peace—The inner peace we gain by trusting in our Creator and Sustainer cannot be found in anything we possess (see John 14:27).
- Provision—When we seek the things of God and follow after him with all our hearts, he is faithful to provide what we need. The more we pursue him, the smaller our “needs” list seems to get (see Matthew 6:28–33)!
- Refreshment—Jesus said, “Come to me.” When we go to Jesus with our thirst, it means leaving behind other wells we thought would satisfy. We soon learn not only to drink the living water, but to jump into the deep end with both feet and soak it in through our pores (see John 7:37–38)!
- Eternal life—When we have eyes for eternity, we realize just how temporary everything in this world really is (see John 10:28).
Living with a mindset of abundance requires spiritual training and mental discipline. It takes time to build a habit of focusing on our blessings instead of what we wish we had. There is always some good to be found, even in difficult circumstances!
One way we find good during hard times is choosing what we think about. In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul tells us what to focus our thoughts on: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
Living with a mindset of abundance requires spiritual training and mental discipline.
The more we practice thinking on and thanking God for our countless blessings, the weaker the hold our perceived lack will have on us. Not only have we been created for abundance, but we have already been given abundant life filled with ample blessings. May God open our eyes to all that he has given us!
Lauri Hawley is a writer and pastor’s wife who loves seeing God’s hand in nature. @laurihawley
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version of the Bible.
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