Scarcity is a lie that steals our joy. A few years ago I hadn’t heard of the term. Now I think of it often. The pastor from Coastal Community Church in Grover Beach that I love listening to online, Andy Rock, preached on it last Sunday. We both enjoy Brenne Brown’s books. She defines scarcity as the fear that we’ll never have enough.
Have you listened to that insidious whisper before? You’ll never have enough money, time, health, energy, wisdom, strength… or you’ll never be enough in your work, friendships, family, community… Spoiler alert- this is not truth. Only your cat might feel this way 🤣 (I love my cats, but one totally thinks this, not the one in the photos) My advice, always have a dog too! Dogs love more like Jesus does. Just saying.
At the same time I was reading Brenne Brown’s book The Gifts of Imperfection, I was also reading a book about Psalm 23. Now every time I think of Psalm 23:1, I see the antidote to the lie of scarcity. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” NIV.
The place of being “in want” is scarcity. It’s a place of neediness that leads to fear and to bad decisions. It leads us to mix up our priorities like financial security over people. Working hard and well is admirable, but working to the point of neglecting family or balance comes from believing the lie of scarcity.
At the Kaiser pharmacy on Friday I saw a lot of frustration behind the counter and in the waiting room. The kind gal who helped me commented, “can’t we all get along?” Living in scarcity doesn’t help. Instead of taking a minute to be kind, we feel harried, frustrated, angry that something is in the way of us getting what we need. As I re enter the world after being so isolated with a compromised immune system, I see signs of scarcity everywhere. I couldn’t believe that $9.99 shoes at Ross had a theft alarm. Really, people are stealing shoes under $10.
Truth says, “The Lord is my shepherd …” not only will I not be “in want”, He leads me to green pastures and still waters, and refreshes my soul (Psalm 23:1-3). God is waiting with everything you need. Just ask and He’ll meet you with wisdom, courage, strength, provision. He did this for me daily during my cancer journey.
Today, I feel awful. I think it’s a bladder infection but it’s not totally clear yet. I’m waiting to see if the antibiotics work. Waiting for another doctor appointment. My mind wants to kick and scream and worry. I want to complain that I’ve had enough in the last two years and surely I don’t need this too. Basically I want to believe the lie of scarcity and whine about it.
What if there’s a different solution? One where I pray and ask God to meet my needs here today? One where I’m honest with my support system and therefore receive texts of prayers and encouragement? What if I then say yes to an offer of groceries that comes with a side benefit of hugs? And seek to believe that God will meet my needs again, trusting the timing of when the doctor can see me and help diagnose what’s going on.
Faith is a verb and it’s fueled by prayer. Surrender happens during prayer. I have to give up trying to meet my needs myself to receive God’s gift of taking care of me.
Let’s stop today and express gratitude that “in want” is not a place we have to be, even if the solution to our current problems isn’t clear yet. We can choose to move to place of trust where we receive what we really need from our loving Shepherd. Wow, what a reason to rejoice!
PS that other cat curled up in my lap as I finished writing this 😆 a sign? Maybe 💗
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