Several years ago, as we approached Christmas, I started choosing a word to mark the coming year. As 2023 drew near, I prayed a lot and felt strongly that God gave me the word: abundance.
Abundance: noun, abun · dance
- An ample quantity: an abundant amount: profusion
- Affluence, wealth
- Relative degree of plentifulness
(from Merriam Webster)
It honestly felt a little uncomfortable. What did God mean? I didn’t want to focus on material abundance, but it was hard to not let my mind drift that way. Regardless, it was the word that felt “right” in my spirit. So, when I talked about it, I tried to focus on the abundance of my relationship with Christ.
Several months later, our family walked through an abrupt forced termination. I remember angrily telling the Lord, “This is not abundance!”
But over the last 18 months, He has shown me what abundance truly looks like.
One of the first things He showed me is that He calls us to delight in His abundance. It’s part of who He is. In Isaiah 55:2, God asks His people, why do you look to other things to satisfy what only I can fill?
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance. (Isaiah 55:2)
The Hebrew word for abundance in this verse literally means fatness. Isaiah is calling the people to delight in the richness of God’s goodness. Delighting in God’s goodness to us takes intentionality.
God’s abundance isn’t found in my circumstances; it’s found in Him. As I processed through the raw emotions of grief that spring, I knew I wanted to be intentional to lift my eyes from our traumatic circumstances to the face of Jesus. And so, I began to make a list of God’s nearness and goodness to our family in that difficult season. I asked God to show me His abundance so that I could delight in His goodness.
God’s abundance to me and our family in that season was unique. He showed Himself through His Word and the comfort I found in my relationship with Him. He was near to me in those first weeks as I cried and poured out my heart to Him. He reminded me that He was always with me.
He showed His nearness through friendships and the knowledge that I wasn’t alone. We had several friends who made themselves available to share our burden through their presence and prayer. He showed His goodness through the prompting of His people to give financially to meet our needs. We were always astounded by the generosity of people who love us.
I delighted in His goodness and abundance. We celebrated His provision and enjoyed our friends. And when God opened another ministry door, we rejoiced with our kids.
Psalm 66:12 was an encouragement to me as I looked to the future:
You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. (Psalm 66:12 NASB)
The word here for abundance is the same word David uses in Psalm 23 when he wrote, My cup overflows. It carries the idea of satisfaction.
We left a traumatic ministry experience. It was easy to believe that ministry is always going to be difficult and painful. As we moved to our new church and I settled into our new community, I fought to believe it would be a place of abundance and satisfaction.
God’s goodness to me in this new season looks different than it did a year ago.
Is this new season perfect or without troubles? Absolutely not. Some parts of our transition have been difficult for our family. And no church is perfect. But I get to choose. Will I look to what He has provided? Or spend too long lamenting the challenges that brought us here?
I get to choose.
And so today, I choose to be delighted in the smile of the woman sitting across the table at the local coffee shop. I see His goodness in the elder board who loves the Lord, loves their church and community, and wants to honor Him. I choose to look for His abundance in the unique ways He is providing housing for our family in an expensive market. I see His goodness in the way He is providing friends for each of our kids. I see His nearness in the text from a new friend asking for our children’s birthdates so she can pray for and encourage them on their special days. I see His abundance in the faces of the members of our church who anticipate each week meeting with the Lord.
Yes, indeed. You have brought us out into a place of abundance.
