in want and plenty: 5 truths about scarcity
Growing up in a large family, I learned pretty early on the finitude of human resources. There’s only so much to go around, especially when spread out to ten people! However, this translated into a scarcity mindset. I started to believe that “never enough” was a defining factor in my life. Lies began to worm their way into my worldview.
I started to believe falsehoods that hampered my life. Things like:
Food is limited – if I don’t eat now, there won’t be any left when I get hungry.
Time is limited – I won’t get as much time with Mum as I’d like because 7 other children are vying for her attention.
Money is limited - we can only buy the necessities because there’s only so much to go around.
Friends are limited - if a friend likes someone else, that means there’s less love to go around and I have less value.
Talents are limited - If someone else is doing something good, they have a monopoly on it and my contributions don’t matter. I believed that once something was used up, it was gone for good.
And while it is true that all of these things are limited, my distorted vision caused me to believe that if I hoarded them for myself my life would be better. That there would somehow be enough for me.
This scarcity mindset generated all sorts of unhealthy and selfish behaviors. I would eat quickly, even when I wasn’t hungry so I wouldn’t miss out, often taking the best things for myself so I would get “my share.” I avoided time with my Mum because if I “didn’t want to spend time with her” then I wasn’t really missing out. I spent money frivolously as soon as I was able, thinking that having nice things for myself would bring value to my life. I tried to keep my friends to myself and avoided group interactions because I felt less than others. I rarely shared my opinion, talents, or resources with others because that would mean there was less for me.
I have carried this mindset of limitedness and scarcity with me into adulthood. I tend to believe that there is not enough of a good thing to go around. I have to save the good things for a special occasion. I have to vigilantly guard my personal time or it will be stolen away from me. I have to wait until I have a backup in terms of a second tin of matcha before I even think about using the first, because what if I run out?!
This scarcity mindset has also haunted my relationship with God. I get stuck in thinking that there’s not enough grace to go around so I have to earn my way into God’s favor. I have to perform well, to be a “good Christian,” for God to love and accept me. I apply my own limitations to my understanding of God and start to believe that there is not enough time, energy, or resources for me. That my little life isn’t important enough for God to care about.
In Matthew 15, there’s a story of a foreign woman who pleads with Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus responds to her saying, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
If that had been me, the story would have ended there. I would have left, disheartened, believing that once again, my suspicions that there is never enough had been confirmed. But that’s not where the story ends.
This foreign woman wasn’t about to be turned away. She knew that Jesus was God. She knew that He was all-powerful and that all the resources in the world belonged to Him. She knew that if He was willing to give, there was enough for her. So she responded, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
She was honest. She realized that she was a foreigner. She realized that she had nothing to give, nothing to barter with, nothing to exchange for the gift she was asking for. She realized that she was not worthy to ask for anything from this great Teacher. But she also realized that Jesus’ resources were not limited and that if He were to give her “crumbs” it would be enough for her need.
Jesus met her in that space. He healed this foreign woman’s daughter, commending her faith. Faith that extended past this woman’s comfort zone. Faith that realized that it might not be a lot, but it would be enough.
Jesus’ resources are not limited and if He gives you “crumbs” it will be enough for your need.
His grace will cover you. His mercy extends to you. In each moment, He will give you what is sufficient for that very moment. It might not be the surplus you are hoping for, but it will always be enough.
In human terms, there is a lot of scarcity in our day-to-day lives. We have a finite number of hours. We have limited cognition, abilities, and energy. Our finances are often less than we’d like. We aren’t where we’d like to be in our careers or relationships, including our relationship with God.
However, that’s not where our story ends either. As promised, here are 5 truths about scarcity to encourage your heart when it feels like you’re walking through a dry and dusty desert.
001. God might not give us a lot, but what He gives is always enough.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:15-16).
God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. We can draw near to Him in times of scarcity and drought knowing that He is faithful and will give freely of His mercy and grace when we need it most.
002. Sharing your limited time and resources actually increases what you have.
For so long, I hoarded my resources to myself. I didn’t plan to spend time with others because then I wouldn’t have enough time to read or blog or choose to use my time however I wanted to. I kept my matcha, books, and other things for myself so they would always be there when I needed them.
However, after realizing that I no longer wanted scarcity to rule my life, I started to share. I freely offer tea to my friends when they come over to visit. I lend my books to others without worrying whether or not I’ll get them back. I open up my home to others when it’s messy because relationships are more important than my ego. And you know what? I have gained more than I have ever given away.
003. Relationships are enriched through sharing
Most of my childhood was spent trying to be “the most important friend.” I thought that if someone had a closer relationship with another friend, it meant that our relationship was less valuable.
There is a story of three friends who would meet together for coffee and discussions. One day, one of the friends died. One of the remaining friends was excited, thinking that now he would have more of his companion who was still alive. However, he soon realized that there were parts of this friend that only the deceased friend could elicit, so in losing the one friend, he also lost elements of his remaining friend as well.
I’ve come to realize that having good friendships is not about creating an exclusive club, but rather creating a space where individuals feel safe to be themselves and share their real lives together.
004. Exchange your scarcity mindset for trust.
When I catch myself in a scarcity mindset, I am usually doubting that God will provide what I need in the future. I have enough now, sure, but what about when I’m struggling? What about when things start to get hard? Will God meet me there, too?
If there’s one thing I know, it’s this: God is faithful. He has promised never to abandon me, and although things will undoubtedly be painful in this sinful world, I don’t have to go through it alone.
Whenever you think that there’s not enough, remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness. You can know that He will continue to be faithful because that is His very character. There will be enough for each moment, even when that looks different than you envisioned.
005. Its okay to use the nice things.
Only last year did I realize that my scarcity mindset was keeping me from enjoying the good gifts I have. I believed that I had to save special things for special occasions, or that a moment had to be good enough to warrant something nice. Friends, this is simply not true. You don’t have to earn the right to use nice things. Life is a gift, and God has given us richly all things to enjoy.
Use your nice, new candle on a Tuesday afternoon. Fill up that beautiful notebook you’ve been saving. Stick that fancy sticker on your water bottle. Drink that expensive tea with a friend.
Recently my sisters shared with me that they have been using their facemasks with our youngest sister because it brings joy and connection to their day. On random evenings they will have spa nights and do facemasks together just for the sheer joy of it! You don’t have to save things for a special occasion. Life is the occasion for joy. This day is a great day to rejoice in the LORD and enjoy the good gifts He has given you.
All we are given is the present. Right now is God’s gift of life! There will always be enough for you because God is enough. You don’t have to try to control your future by saving the nice things so you’ll have them when you need them.
♪ - Listen to Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy) by Shane & Shane.
