An Abundant 2022

Anyone who was alive in the 1920s would likely remember where they were on October 29, 1920. It was on this day that the U.S. Stock Market collapsed and economic catastrophe descended upon America. It’s safe to say that no one who was alive during the Great Depression could forget such a time.

And while I wasn’t alive during Great Depression, I can vividly remember a Great Depression of my own that capsized my world as a child.

As I’ve shared candidly before, I suffered a number of family deaths and family brokenness as a young child. Yet, it wasn’t until this past year that I fully grasped the extent to which those early traumas had formed my understanding of the world…and of God.

Like an American during the Great Depression, I adapted a scarcity mindset; a coping mechanism that I turned to for nearly twenty-years without realizing how unhealthy it truly was.

A Year of Humbling

When I started this blog at the ripe ‘ole age of eighteen, I did so with the intention of painting a picture of God’s faithfulness through written word—a testament of gratitude. For better or worse, I’ve documented the last seven years with a (hopefully) maturing lens on thankfulness, taking each year in particular to focus on a word that God has given me to spiritually mature in.

When I prayed about 2021, the word was “humility.” I cannot help but laugh when I consider how naïve I was in penning that initial blog post…did I really expect that a twelve-month humility endeavor would be delightful? Apparently.

Needless to say, this last year has been one of the hardest of my life (shoutout to 2020 for taking the top spot). It was a rainy, rainy season—with the beautiful, flowering gift of marriage that has no doubt been the highlight.

And yet, here we are: January 2, 2022. Suffice it to say I desire to keep growing in humility, but I certainly have been humbled. So, it is in that state of humility—that battle-weary, wounded yet grateful existence—that I’m stepping into a new year. A new word.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from this difficult year, it is that the Lord God Almighty conquers all death, depression, and despair. He is doing that in my life as I embrace the uncomfortable truth that I am wholly dependent on Him to do, be, or know anything.

And that, friends, is how God led me to my “focus word” for 2022.

Why I Prefer “Bad” to “Good”

Kudos to you if you’ve tracked with me this long. I know these “year reflection” type posts can be verbose. But there’s a reason for that. Writing is not algebra as much as it is geometry; the artistry and process are of equal importance as the message itself.

So, I’m painting a picture for us. I’m explaining that my year of humbling led to some pretty stark revelations, the largest of which is that I have a serious aversion to being in need. What’s more: I hate even the prospect of being in need; so much so that I have a tendency to bury the good in search of the bad—just so I feel prepared for incoming disaster.

Abundance

Recently, I asked my husband what comes to mind when he considers the word “abundance.” He responded that he pictures an overflowing grain silo and that the word has only positive connotations to him.

The answer shocked me.

Rarely had I considered abundance to be a good thing.

An Abundant 2022?

What if I get too attached? How will I cope if I need more than I can contribute? What if it’s too painful when I inevitably lose it? When will they discover I’m weak and abandon me? When will the bottom crumble?

These are all questions I’ve wrestled with. Since childhood, I have been scared of experiencing God’s blessings. When I surveyed my relationships, finances, and health, I was terrified to enjoy the good…terrified that as soon as I adjusted to it, disaster would strike.

So, why do I—why do we—fear blessing? As I’ve pressed into this question the last few months, I’ve realized that a fear of receiving God’s blessings stems from a heart that doesn’t understand God Himself as the ultimate blessing.

Abundance in the Bible

God’s Word tells us multiple times that He is a God of abundance. Just a quick word search through my Bible revealed that God:

• Is abundant in righteousness (Job 37:3)
• Has abundant goodness (Ps. 145:7)
• Has abundant power (Ps. 147:5)
• Give abundant mercy (Ps. 51:1)
• Provides abundant life (John 10:10)
• Is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)

That last one in particular has always been a favorite verse of mine. Why? It leaves no question about it: God is able. And He is willing.

Our Response to God’s Abundance

Contrary to my husband, I’ve rarely associated “abundance” with positivity. It strikes fear into my heart for the same reason that receiving a generous gift is hard for me: it reveals vulnerability.

If there is abundance, my head rationalizes that there will soon be lack, which means that if I grow accustomed to the “good,” I’ll suffer all-the-more when life gets hard again.

As God is showing me though, receiving His blessings isn’t a path toward spiritual-softness that will land me in deep depression. Maybe that’s true if our satisfaction is in God’s abundant blessings, but not if our satisfaction is the abundant Savior Himself. If Christ alone satisfies, then a right enjoyment of His good gifts only leads to a greater enjoyment of who He is.

Writing is not algebra as much as it is geometry; the artistry and process are of equal importance as the message itself.

His fulfilling abundance does not end. That means that if we fix our attention on His abundance as seen through earthly blessings, the loss of such blessings won’t rock us, nor will their arrival complete us. In fact, the earthly blessings that come and go will drive us to our Maker. And that brings new, abundant life.

Right?

I’ll be honest: I’m not sure. I’ve never let myself freely enjoyed and lived out of God’s abundance. I’ve been squatting in my Great Depression for years, but I’m ready for that to end.

Come death or life, depression or relief, success or catastrophe; I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that the pain we experience, as children and now as adults, does not get to own us. We are the Lord’s. I know: My Redeemer lives.

Do you?

I hope you’ll join me this year as we learn how marvelous and worthy of praise God is; as we see Him shine brighter than the blessings we see Him provide. With Job, may we proclaim:

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed,
    yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
    Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
    I am overwhelmed at the thought!”

Job 19:25-27, NLT

Do you have a word or focus for this new year? I’d love to hear! Share in the comments below!