The Valley of Abundance by Gina Franzke

            I have had two life-changing encounters with the Lord over the past few years that I will forever characterize as “spiritual markers” because of how dramatically they changed the way I view God, myself and others.

            The first one was during covid when I was co-leading a virtual Journey Group. I did not know the majority of the women that signed up. Like me, they were all desperate for community and more of Jesus. In one of the sessions on the Holy Spirit, we were discussing surrender and trust and the sovereignty of God. I was personally walking through a very difficult season of my life. I was battling anger and depression. The truth is, I was disappointed with my life for not being what I wanted it to be. My words during this session revealed what my heart was hiding. During our discussion, one of the women spoke up and she spoke directly to me. She seemed to have a “holy discontent” with the discussion and these words came out of her mouth…“Your real problem is this; you do not, in the depths of your heart, believe God is sovereign. And if HE is not sovereign, then someone or something is and you need to figure that out.” 

            I stumbled to find the words to form a proper response; but they were not there, because I knew she was right. After 33 years in full time ministry, I had gotten pretty good at giving the right “biblically correct” answers, yet I still struggled to fully believe the truth of who God is, who we are and how he cares for us.

            Fast forward one year to the second moment. I was listening to a podcast entitled “Sabbath: A Celebration of Restoration.” by Kristi McClelland. In this podcast Kristi made this statement about the Kingdom of God, she said; “God’s kingdom is not a kingdom of scarcity. His kingdom is a kingdom of abundance.” The Holy Spirit gently whispered to my heart…Gina, you have been living and abiding in a kingdom of scarcity and this is not my kingdom. This is a kingdom of your own making and you are sitting in my seat, on my throne.

            When I heard the author say this, I was immediately taken back to that zoom session and I was hearing my friend’s voice again saying to me. “If God is not sovereign over your life, then someone or something is and you need to figure that out.”  God in his mercy, grace and kindness showed me that I was the one on the throne of my heart. I wrestled with this because I was getting up every morning reading and praying. I was serving. I was giving. I was leading  a Journey Group. I was doing all the things. But my heart? My heart was in pain. I was struggling with fear, anxiety and depression. And this is what happens to our souls when we are abiding in kingdoms of our own making. There is always lack, there is never enough and that belief system manifests itself in fear, anxiety, worry, depression, bitterness and anger. When you are abiding in your own kingdom, you will easily grow angry at life for not being what you want it to be. You become cynical, critical and you might even wrestle with feelings of hopelessness. It looks like being stuck in an orphan mindset and denying ourselves a seat at his table. God’s word says…”HE prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23:5) And the good news about his Kingdom of abundance is, we are not in charge of the table. He is, and it is filled with everything we need.

What God’s kingdom vs. my kingdom looks like.

My kingdom
I believe I can control the outcome of my life and I am only okay if life goes the way I planned.

God’s Kingdom
His is the King. He is in control of the outcomes of my life. His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it already is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

My kingdom
I constantly worry about my children, my finances, my work. I am constantly ruminating potential disastrous outcomes.

God’s Kingdom
He’s got my family, my finances, my friends, my work. He is working all things together for the good.

My kingdom
Produces fruit that looks like fear, anger, worry, bitterness, jealousy, contempt, pride, self-sufficiency.

There is a spirit of scarcity that produces fear and fear is painful. We live in a world that provides many avenues of immediate relief to that pain. It can look like hours of mindless scrolling on social media, over shopping, over eating, over drinking and over-thinking every little detail of our lives. It looks like addictions that are too private to talk about. In a kingdom of scarcity, we convince ourselves that if our children would just behave a certain way, if my spouse would just respect me or show more affection and love, if my boss could just see my value, if I just had more money, if anyone would just see me, then; I will be ok. All lies from the enemy.

God’s Kingdom
There is always an overflow…an abundance of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Why? Because when we are abiding in God’s kingdom, we are trusting the outcomes of our life to him and we live life with our hearts postured in rest by remaining, staying, dwelling in his love, his provision and his goodness over our lives.

In a world of scarcity, of striving and straining where there is never enough; we, His Beloved, can boldly proclaim He is enough. And because HE is enough there is enough for you and for me. The Lord calls us to, “consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added until you.” Matthew 6:28-33

He calls us, as Kingdom dwellers, to have hearts that rest in the abundance of his provision and his sovereignty over every detail of our lives. He wants us to not just say he is enough; He wants us to know in the very depths of our hearts that he is enough.

Consider the condition of your own heart. What kingdom are you abiding in right now? Where is your heart right now? Are you fearful, worried, anxious, angry, bitter, full of regret and shame?

What are the parts of your life that are anchored in scarcity, in striving and straining? Where do you find yourself pushing too hard? What things do you find too difficult to let go? Is it a wayward child, a difficult marriage, past regrets, a dream lost?

Can you release your desired outcomes to him and trust that when you let your soul rest in his sovereignty, his provision and care over your life, there will always be enough.