The Fear of Running Out

This is our B moment. Our moment to be still…to be fed by the Word of God…to be grateful.

Scripture reference: Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

Transcription:

Today I am addressing the fear of running out.

Given the growing uncertainty with the coronavirus, I was in the grocery store this past weekend, stocking up on essential items. As I turned down one of the aisles, I noticed another shopper grabbing the last few baking canned goods off a nearly bare shelf.

His actions immediately prompted me to look inside my own basket to see which items I may have hoarded and needed to put back. I soon acknowledged to myself that we were both overcome with a fear of running out.

This incident reminded me of Elijah’s encounter with the widow. In this story, he asked her for bread, and her response was centered around a fear of scarcity. The widow told him that she only had enough to prepare a last meal for her son and herself, and then she planned to die.

Let’s contrast her approach with Elijah’s. When Elijah started out on his assignment from God, there was a severe drought going on. The Lord told Elijah to go to the Kerith Brook, and he would drink from there. 

Yet sometime thereafter, the brook dried up. Elijah’s response wasn’t to ask God how He could send him to a brook that would dry up. Instead, Elijah kept his faith and didn’t fear being without. Before Elijah could even ask for help, God was providing for him.

During these days of dealing with so much of the unknown, we should lose our fear as much as we can over being without, knowing that God is leading us to sustenance. As you remember that, hold onto these words: “…I am making a way in the wilderness…” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

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So today, release scarcity.