Overcoming Scarcity Mindset & Embracing God’s Goodness

by Betsy Sunny

Day 1: Recognizing the Fleeting Nature of Goodness

As we go through life, we encounter moments of pure goodness that make us stop in our tracks and breathe a sigh of contentment. Yet, often, these moments seem too fleeting, leaving us grasping for more or waiting for the other shoe to drop. In these instances, we are reminded of the transient nature of goodness in our lives.

Our main character in the film is contemplating a glass of orange juice at a diner. Has that ever been you? You order it, recognizing that there are no refills, so you hoard it until the end of your meal, ever so careful not to waste a drop because you want to savor it. We can spend so much time hoarding goodness because we recognize that it is transient in nature. We don't savor or enjoy the good thing because we fear losing it.

James encourages us to shift our perspective from the gift to the Giver of the gift. In reality, we have very little control over what comes and leaves our way. If the source of what we experience is good and is placed in objects, people, or places, there is always a chance that the departure of that source will leave us questioning if goodness is available to us. In reality, we can not always expect to have the good gift - but what we always have access to is the good Giver.

But when we shift our perspective to the good nature of the Giver, the one "who does not change like shifting shadows," we can regain confidence that the end of a good thing is not permanent. It can reorient us towards the hope that if we had experienced goodness before, we could experience it again because that is a characteristic of the Giver of the good thing.

Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on a recent experience of goodness in your life. How did it make you feel? Did you find yourself waiting for something to go wrong? What does this say about your perception of goodness?

Prayer: Gracious God, help me to recognize and appreciate the goodness in my life, even when it feels transient. Teach me to find joy in the present moment and to trust in Your unwavering goodness, knowing that every good gift comes from You. Amen.