I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.- John 10:10
The Bible verse above is one worth memorizing. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, gave us a secret to joyful, fulfilling life in this summation of His rescue mission to save us. He came to give us His abundant life, both in this life here and now and the next. So if Jesus came to give us an abundant life, why do so many people have a scarcity mindset? The mindset that says we do not have enough: not enough money, not enough time, not enough beauty, not enough love, not enough…
I think one reason for this is that we focus on the wrong things: earthly things. Perhaps instead, to receive an abundant life, we should change our focus to the person of Christ as the fulfillment of our desires. Psalm 23:1 reflects this idea: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” I often feel a lack when I think about my earthly life (not enough…). But when I consider the refreshment of spending time with Christ in prayer, those lacks seem to dissipate somehow. Life is put into perspective. In Christ, “my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).
St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” To me, this speaks to the abundance mindset, which helps us to move away from a scarcity mindset. Scarcity compels us to restlessness; abundance moves us toward peace.
Refocusing on Jesus as the fulfillment of our desires allows us to rest in the Father’s providence for us. No matter what comes our way, we know that we are led by Christ, even in the darkest, driest valleys. We can learn to trust in God in a way that leads to peace and joy and Beatitude. We can rest in God when we truly grasp that we are little sheep who are fed and protected by our loving Good Shepherd, who meets our every need.
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank you for the abundant life you offer me. Help me to cooperate with your grace and trust in You so that I can find peace in my day-to-day walk following You. Jesus, let me rest in You.