Merry & Bright: Rediscover the Peace of AdventSample

God’s Endless Supply

“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another” (John 1:16, NLT).

Looking at the credit card bill from the previous month, I felt a little surge of guilt as I considered the charges one by one. With the benefit of hindsight, there were a few items that I wished I hadn’t bought at all.

Throughout the year, I love finding a good deal at the grocery store or cute items at the thrift store. And I really love Christmas, which provides me with the opportunity to buy gifts for loved ones. Finding the perfect gift for someone brings me such joy. It’s not that it’s bad to want a get a good deal or seek out the perfect gift, but it sometimes means that I purchase more than I need. Even though we’ve heard that contentment is key to living a peaceful life, the world lures us in with the promise of more. Stocking our pantry or filling our homes offers a false sense of security. Adding more Christmas decor or presents under the tree seems like a surefire way to add to our happiness during the season. And trendy clothes or gorgeous home upgrades—all ours for the asking with the click of a button or two—can seem to promise us health, safety, comfort, or prestige.

When we see the world around us through the lens of scarcity, we never will have enough—whether resources, time, or possessions. Unfortunately, “more” is never enough, and the safety and comfort we seek can never be fulfilled by our belongings.

Thankfully, the Kingdom of God is one of abundance rather than scarcity. I love the reminder in John that we already have received “one gracious blessing after another”! (John 1:16, NLT). Our gracious God lavishes us with his love, power, and peace. He gave us a world overflowing with light and color, twinkling stars, and a brilliant sun. He provided us with community, imbued us with purpose, and gave us the ability to breathe deeply and savor every moment.

When we shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance, we recognize that we don’t need to strive for more. Because of Jesus, you and I already have all that we need. His generosity never runs out, never goes dry, and never fails. Our abundant God has more than enough for you and me.

Questions to Ponder: As you approach Christmas, is your mindset one of abundance or scarcity? What is one thing you can do today to foster contentment during the Advent season?