Exchanging a Scarcity Mindset for God's Abundance
Another weekly check-in on the scale, another dip or high on the rollercoaster of my erratic, often conflicting emotions.
It didn’t used to be this way. While I cared for my body’s well-being and attended to my diet and fitness, the number on the scale wasn’t the decisive factor for how I felt each week. My mornings, marked by the anticipation of a new Scripture passage and the excitement for a warm bowl of oatmeal, turned into minefields where one step—or one pound—in the wrong direction would set off havoc in my heart.
The number going down called for celebration, but anything else triggered shame, discouragement, and, worse of all, a belief that God wasn’t the gracious Lord I’d grown to trust.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)
I first heard this verse during my senior year of college. It was a podcast episode about FOMO and how the gospel speaks directly to that fear; while FOMO has never arrested my mind like other fears have, it still seemed to be relevant enough for me to tune in. Little did I know that this episode would not only teach me about FOMO, but it will also unearth some deep-rooted lies about God.
I always get the short end of the stick
Things could be a lot better if only I had this…
If I do this, I won’t get enough of that
While these thoughts were about how I perceived my experiences and not necessarily about God, they all pointed to the underlying lie that God was holding back.
Of course, I would never say it aloud, but at the end of the day, my actions spoke louder than my words.
Weighing myself every week to make sure I hadn’t gained any weight
Eating only half of my food, afraid of what would happen if I took that last bite
Going to bed hungry to keep my calorie count just where I want it
See, I had a mind of scarcity. The episode introduced me to this new concept in which we believe that what we have isn’t enough and that God isn't holding up his end of the covenant. This scarcity mindset led me to do certain things to avoid experiencing more scarcity. But I was actually sabotaging my opportunity to experience the full life Christ promises.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
What we see in Christ’s ministry, all the prophecies pointing to him and their fulfillment at the cross is that we have a God of abundance.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
If our God did not withhold the one thing we needed to receive abundant life, why would he withhold all else we need to enjoy and glorify him? He saved us not for one moment but for all eternity, and as our divine Father, he knows exactly what we need to take part in that eternity. As we read in 2 Peter 1:3, God has given us everything we need for a godly life! From the moment he saved us until all eternity, he is committed to being our gracious Father.
But here’s the thing. The things God graciously gives us, all those spiritual blessings attached to our eternal inheritance, may not look like we imagined. We may be tempted to believe we are missing out on the true blessings when they take different shapes or forms from what we had envisioned. At least that’s what I thought when my body was quickly transforming, and my pant size grew along with my discomfort and doubts. Maybe our fear of scarcity also comes from a lens on the seen rather than the unseen, on the material rather than the spiritual. And that’s why it may seem harder to see and appreciate the spiritual blessings for what they are—the gracious provision of an all-knowing Father.
When Jesus was teaching his disciples not to worry, he did so after speaking the parable of the rich man. When the rich man saw he had no room to store his abundant crops, he built more barns to store it all for himself in the years to come. But when his time came to give an account to God, his treasure was on earth, wasting away with all other moth-eaten possessions. He was rich toward himself and not toward God’s Kingdom.
“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)
As I prayed for my body, I realized that my scarcity came from believing that achieving a certain look would be the pinnacle of my joy. But my appearance, like anything this world offers as our source of joy and security, will waste away. Yet our God never changes! We don’t have to fear scarcity because the very nature of our God who saved us is one of grace, provision, and one that leads us to build treasures in heaven that don't fail.
Even though my body is not what it used to be, God has revealed the far greater riches of stewarding it as a living sacrifice rather than an instrument for idolatry. I can delight in his daily provision because I trust that he will care for my body as my Abba. I don’t have to get on the scale every week because I’m healthy, and my appearance is not what enables me to carry out my purpose in the Lord. Even when I do experience a material lack that hurts, God sees my pain and is faithful to deliver according to his will.
Just as Christ taught his disciples, I can move from a mind of scarcity (anxiety) to abundance (generosity) because I trust that I’m part of God’s beloved flock. If you believe our true treasure is God and his eternal promises of salvation, joy, peace, and SO much more, then I’m confident you, too, can walk away from scarcity and toward the gift that makes us the most joyful:
A God of never-ending grace
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)