How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;

    you give them drink from your river of delights. – Psalm 36:7-8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

You drench the plowed ground with rain,

    melting the clods and leveling the ridges.

You soften the earth with showers

    and bless its abundant crops.

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;

    even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,

    and the hillsides blossom with joy. – Psalm 65:10-12 NLT

As we step into the new year, God has me leaning into his abundance. It is true. He is the God of abundance. Since creation began in the Garden of Eden, his abundance has flowed unceasing. Abundance of water. Abundance of food. Abundance of love. Abundance of grace. Abundance of peace. Abundance of mercy. Abundance of provision of every imaginable kind.

So?

Why is it that we always seem to focus on our lack? What we don’t have.

It all started with Adam and Eve in the Garden. The Evil One enticed them to focus on the one thing they didn’t have, and they fell for it. The crazy thing is that the one thing they didn’t have, their lack, was smack dab in the middle of the Garden. They had to walk past the abundance God had provided them in order to get to what they didn’t have.

Unfortunately, isn’t that all too often our view of our life with God? John Eldredge said in his book Walking with God:

“It’s not what He isn’t giving but what He is giving. We can get so locked into what we don’t have, what we think we want or need, that we miss the gifts that God is giving."

Yep. Been there, done that. And though I am much more aware on a daily basis of the abundance God provides in my life, there are times when the lack comes to the fore.

In this fallen world, while we may, from time to time fall prey to the Evil One’s schemes, it is important that we recognize them, repent, and bring the work of Christ against the spirits of deception and self-centeredness. We must release the self-life to Jesus for its redemption and healing. And lean deeply into the abundance of life and love that our walk with Jesus offers.

One of my Christmas movie mainstays is “White Christmas” starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kay, and Vera Ellen. About halfway through there is a beautiful Irving Berlin song that Bing and Rosemary perform called “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)”. The lyrics point to a beautiful way to remember God’s abundance in a world and time that so often pushes us to focus on our lack.

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

It is out of gratitude that we can live in the joy and power of abundance. Gratitude for each breath, each sunrise and sunset, each beat of our heart, each kiss, each hug, each smile, and the height, depth, and breadth of Christ’s love.

I also know that many of you may be in a season of drought where the trauma and pain of loss threatens to pull you out to sea like a rip tide. It is hard. I know it is so very hard.

Another of my favorite films is called “Collateral Beauty” starring Will Smith and a truly all-star cast. It is the story of a man swept out to sea by the death of his young daughter. And it is the story of those who love him and seek his restoration in and through their own pain, struggles, and selfish ambitions.

The title line in the movie is delivered as a memory by this man’s ex-wife from the time in the hospital right after her daughter died. She shares it with him as they are reunited in their love for their daughter, the acceptance of the pain of her death, and their love for each other.

“Don’t forget to look for the collateral beauty.”

So, as you step into the new year, it is my hope and prayer that you will remember the abundance of God in your life and, even in the midst of what feels like unbearable trauma and pain, remember the collateral beauty. It’s there. Just like you. Waiting to be seen, known, experienced, and embraced with Jesus.

May your year be truly blessed! Godspeed.