You Lack Nothing

I’m a dreamer. A visionary. Give me an idea for a business and I’ll dream up what it looks like, events you could do, how you could reach people, things you could offer…the list goes on. I can get very passionate about it too, to the point of being asked if I’m going to do that or would I get involved. I told my friends this week while we were planning our Mom’s Group ministry that I can come up with all sorts of vision for something, but that doesn’t always mean the Lord said do it, haha!

As a dreamer, I can come up with lots of whats and whys—here’s what we’re going to do and here’s why. But I’m also a very skilled administrator, so I can come up with lots of hows, too. And as my youth pastor would have put it, it’s very easy to how those whats and whys to death.

When how becomes a hindrance

Don’t get me wrong, how is important. Without it, you’ll never achieve your vision. How breaks things down into steps, looks for measurables, and comes up with systems to move the plan along to the goal. Asking how is essential.

But how squashes our why when we perceive our lack and become afraid of it. Lack of funds, lack of knowledge, lack of experience, lack of help, lack of time, lack of resources, lack of energy, lack of confidence—we can come up with a lot of excuses for why we may not be able to achieve something.

But what if God said to do it?

“Please send someone else.”

Moses had been given a rather large task (if we can call bringing the enslaved Israelites out of Egypt simply a “task”). And he brought plenty of concerns up with God. Funny enough, his concerns look legitimate, but if you read a little closer, you see that Moses is panicking. I would too, to be honest. The task before him was so large and Moses was just one man (and one unwanted-in-Egypt-man at that). Moses saw his lack and feared. Going to Egypt could mean death. How on earth was one man supposed to free thousands of slaves? Who was he that he should do this and why would anyone listen to him? Who is this god who is sending him? What if the people didn’t believe him? Heck, he can’t even talk properly! Oh Lord, please send someone else.^[1]

Yet God took every one of his concerns and provided for them.

“Write down these words…”

Leading Israel out of Egypt is a rather extreme example. But fear of lack doesn’t just affect those big things. It affects the small things as well. Like writing. Whether the Lord has put a kids’ story on your heart or is asking you to take on a controversial topic, what you feel you lack can stand in your way if you choose to fear it.

“I don’t know enough about this topic.” Lack of knowledge.

“I’ve never written something like that before.” Lack of experience.

“How am I going to pay to get that published?” Lack of funds.

“What if someone smarter than me comes along and says I’ve got it wrong?” Lack of experience and knowledge.

“When is that going to get done?” Lack of time.

“What if no one listens to me?” Lack of confidence.

“Why should anyone listen to me?” Lack of credibility.

Oh Lord, please ask someone else.

Do you hear the fear in those statements?

God provides provision for His vision

What if instead we looked at our perceived lack as an invitation for God to provide for us? This puts how back in its place of empowering and accomplishing the vision rather than hindering it.

For example: “I don’t know enough about this topic” becomes “Lord, which resources should I turn to for more information? What research should I do?” Now, you have actionable steps.

I’m certainly speaking to myself here. I’ve had a book on my heart for a long time but getting it written has been a challenge. Mostly because of my lack of time and energy. I’m a busy mom and something else always seems to need my attention first.

You’ve probably heard the statement “When God gives vision, He provides provision.” It’s a nice play on words, but there is also truth to it. How many times in the Bible did God provide for people He gave vision to? I encourage you to go count.

Not only has God has given you the tools, the resources, and the confidence to succeed, He has also given you His Spirit who empowers you to do all things.^[2]

You lack nothing.

Notes:

^[1] Exodus 4:13

^[2] Philippians 4:13