Endless Lack or Holy Fullness?

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When the Doctor said “have patience” again,

I felt that my life was in Re-run phase.

 

When the doubts rolled in like November clouds,

I saw my heart settling in to the fog.

 

When the pain flowed in and trickled out,

I heard my soul losing the song.

 

But when Jesus stepped in with His merciful grace

I gave Him my life,

I opened my heart,

and I searched my soul

 

For I found His dear giving

filled every dark corner

sent all I was needing

supplied every lack.

–bg

 

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing. Psalm 34:9 NIV

 

On a day when the weight of my doubts seemed too close for comfort, and my heart felt the lack of my own abilities so deeply, I heard the Lord whispering that word lack right back to me.

 

Have you ever heard Jesus whisper your own questions, but as an answer back to you?

 

I sensed a need to look more deeply into those words, so I searched and found these notes from The Pulpit Commentary at Bible Hub:

O fear the Lord, ye his saints. Fear of God, a reverent and godly fear, will always accompany trust in God, such as God approves. The saints of God both love and fear him (comp. Psalm 31:23). There is no want to them that fear him since God supplies all their wants.

 

Oh those words brought a conviction to my heart. For it is in the reverent trusting that He wants to show us that everything we lack is right where HE meets us with His perfect supply.

 

And then I read the verse immediately before my searched-out question and answer:

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.Psalm 34:8

 

What causes me to look away from God’s goodness?

Where does the shift begin?

Isn’t it that ancient fault of pride? . . .

“Did God really say ?” . . .

 

As long as I am settling into my own perspectives, focusing on my own doubts, and staring at my own lack, I am not able to do the one thing that will shift my focus. He invites me to come in with Him, to taste of His goodness, and to find His perfect refuge of grace.

 

There is no lack in Him.

I shall not want.

For He supplies my every need.

 

 

Where I see endless lack and fear within myself, Jesus invites me to humbly offer up my lack to Him. For in that place of surrender I find my trust renewed, as I taste of the goodness He will bring to me.

 

When I shared my thoughts for this post with my good friend, Anna Smit, she shared with me the beautiful artwork that our sweet friend Gayl Wright had just shared, and the confirmation that it was. (You can see Gayl’s art on her Facebook page by clicking here.) And then Anna reminded me of words that God had given me for an entry in our upcoming podcast, “Treasures From the Sands.”  Into a day of such desert feelings many months ago, Jesus had already prepared the words in my journal that would meet me today:

 

20180508_204003(1)

 

Would you join me in this prayer, taken from the podcast and book that my friend Anna and I are preparing?

 

“Dear Father,
We come before you feeling spiritually and physically dehydrated from
the heat of this desert. We offer our cries up to You here, asking for
nourishment for our starving souls. We have looked back, and we have longed for our kinds of filling. Will You forgive us for closing our hearts
to Your own filling? Open our eyes to see You here, and open our hands
to receive the gifts that You want to bring to us here. Stir up our hearts
to long for the Manna that will fill our empty souls, the bread that only
You can provide. In the precious name of Your son, the Living Bread,
Amen.”

 

I love this song by Shane and Shane taken directly from the praises of Psalm 34. I pray that your heart will be stirred to see His dear goodness today also:

 

 

I am linking with:

#LMMLinkup

 

 

Published by Bettie G

Jesus follower, Wife, Mom, and Grandma, journeying through chronic illness one day at a time

Published

32 thoughts on “Endless Lack or Holy Fullness?”

  1. Thanks again for words of encouragenent. The Living Word brings the Manna we need for one day at a time.

    Praying that your time of waiting for the “right time” will continue to be a blessing for all who read what you write and listen to the songs you share.

    Love you. Hoping you soon will find relief for your RA. I can continue with Prednisolone for now. My ECG was normal today.

    I’ll listen more to your songs as I’ll have more time soon. Hakan has a check up this week, involving two nights under observation at the nursing home for the aged. He’s not too happy about going there. Next week he can start some training at a gym with a guy who was his pupil 1992.

    ♡♡♡

    Den mån 12 nov 2018 8:37 PMBettieGsRAseasons skrev:

    > Bettie G posted: ” When the Doctor said “have patience” again, I felt that > my life was in Re-run phase. When the doubts rolled in like November > clouds, I saw my heart settling in to the fog. When the pain flowed in > and trickled out, I heard my soul l” >

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    1. Dear Lisa,
      Oh yes, His Manna given through our Dear Living Word is fresh for each day isn’t it? I am so thankful that we can pray for each other through these days that feel so long in the waiting. Praise God that your ECG was normal today. We do thank Him for every bit of good news! How sweet that the therapy for Hakan can be offered by a former pupil of his. Wow, God’s ways are so amazing. I will pray for this checkup coming up to go well also. May the Lord continue to watch over you both, and bring beautiful blessings along the way. Love and Hugs to you Dear Sister!

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  2. “As long as I am settling into my own perspectives, focusing on my own doubts, and staring at my own lack, I am not able to do the one thing that will shift my focus.” Oh, Bettie, this is so true. When I focus on what I can’t do and what is wrong it seems I am stuck in a rut. But when I turn my gaze to Jesus, remember His work and His promises, my whole attitude changes. God gives peace and helps me to trust that He is working and He will accomplish His purposes. It’s not my own strength, but His flowing through me. I love your poem. It really illustrates the despair we can feel and then takes us to the peace that comes only in Jesus. Blessings, love and hugs to you my dear sister! xoxo

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    1. Dear Gayl,
      I am so thankful for all of your encouragement and willingness to share from your heart too. God is so good to point us towards Him, and then to share with each other. Yes, I know what you mean about getting stuck in that rut when I focus on myself! But what a precious gift when we trust Him, and He brings His strength to flow through us! Oh, may I keep looking up to Him, finding His peace in every moment of despair. Blessings, love and hugs to you too Dear Sister! xoxo

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    1. Dear Julie,
      I did not even think of the Holidays tying in with that theme of “we shall not lack,” but you are so right. I love the conversations that God brings to us as we share together! Thank you for your sweet comments here, and for your prayers for me and for Anna as we go forward in God’s purposes. Love and Blessings to you Dear Sister!

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  5. “He invites me to come in with Him, to taste of His goodness, and to find His perfect refuge of grace” speaks of how our Chief Shepherd draws us with cords of compassion and love. Sadly, we often miss the call to come aside and rest in Him. During times when we behave like errant or uncomprehending sheep who drift away, we are apt to have a flawed perspective, because we focus more on what we lack than on what we already have. Though God’s mercy, forgiveness and grace are ours for the taking and He longs for us to open our eyes to His all-sufficiency for our every need. Dear Bettie, you have been learning these things in the school of hard knocks and pain. And you are teaching us, through your sweet example and inspired words, what it looks like to stay close to our Saviour and heed what He is saying to us. Thank you for your lovely poem and thoughts. You always bring me closer to the heart of God. Blessings, love and grateful hugs! xoxo

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    1. Dear Joy,
      Oh I love the way that you expressed our wandering attitudes as akin to an errant or uncomprehending sheep. We just really cannot comprehend all that Jesus has for us, can we? How thankful I am that He does draw us with those cord of compassion and love. I have needed those cords so constantly on this path, so prone am I to shifting my focus. Sometimes I am shocked at how quickly I pick up those doubts when the pain rolls in. But my Savior is so close, and He speaks such sweet words of mercy and grace. I am so glad that we can share this journey together, Dear Friend. You are such a sweet encouragement and inspiration to me! Blessings, love, and long distance hugs to you across the pond! xoxo

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  6. God is teaching you so much through pain and limitations, Bettie. Thank you so much for this hope-filled message. This line especially arrested my attention – “For it is in the reverent trusting that He wants to show us that everything we lack is right where HE meets us with His perfect supply.” I need to trust Him more when I feel “spiritually and physically dehydrated.” I love that prayer and I’m praying it with you. Love and hugs to you!

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    1. Dear Trudy,
      Oh I understand those longings to trust Jesus more! It reminds me of the old hymn, “Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” and how the last stanza says, “Oh, for grace to trust Him more.” I sure feel that way too. I am so thankful that He understands even that weakness within us too! Thank you so much for your prayers–I am so very grateful that we can pray for each other. You have been such an encouragement to me! Love and Hugs to you too! xo

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  7. Dear Bettie, your writing is so moving and beautiful. You really captured how I feel on the days when the doubt is great and my lack of runs strong. Certainly chronic health problems are a huge faith mountain to climb and re-climb. I appreciate your honesty and great faith through it all. You are really an inspiration. The Holy Spirit must have been moving us in sync today because I also posted a piece called “One Thing You Lack”. Would you mind if I repost this devotional on that page? God bless you and keep you close to His heart, dear sister!

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    1. Dear Melissa,
      I am so very thankful at the way that God moved in both of our hearts this week, and brought such fullness and confirmation to His Word within us! He knows how to help us follow Him, even in the convictions, doesn’t He? I would be humbled and blessed for you to share my post with yours. God is drawing us all to Himself, and calling us to see the beauty in trusting Him! God bless you also, Dear Sister!

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      1. Thank you so much, Bettie! God is amazing the way He moves and confirms His message of truth and love in and among us. I love how you say this, “calling us to see the beauty of trusting in Him!” Amen! Have a Spirit-filled day, dear Sister!

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  8. So, so blessed by you, Bettie. You show me just how powerful and how gentle our God is. So, so unlike us humans. No judgment, so much compassion and love. These words especially touch my heart: “Where I see endless lack and fear within myself, Jesus invites me to humbly offer up my lack to Him.” Thank you for always drawing me to the foot of the Cross, Bettie. May the LORD shower you in peace right now through your night, speaking His truth deeply into your heart, as only He can. Love you xxx

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  9. Pingback: One Thing You Lack – Melissa McLaughlin

  12. How wonderful Bettie that you and Anna are faithfully following God’s prompting to share His message through writings, podcasts, and soon to be book! Yes, whenever we feel those moments of lack, insecurity, fear…anything that is not of Him we can turn back to the Christ always within us. Thank you for this reminder today!

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    1. Dear Lynn,
      Thank you for your sweet support and encouragement! That means the world to me, as I know that you seek the Lord and His Words. He does meet us within and supply all that we need! Blessings and love to you today, Dear Sister!

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  13. Wonderful, encouraging thoughts, sweet friend. Oh, He is there! Right in the midst of our lack, and our weakness more deeply reveals His amazing strength. I don’t know what we would do without Jesus. Thank God, we never have to find that out. I do trust your suffering is less today. God bless you always.

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    1. Dear Cheryl
      Oh yes, I love that thought: “Right in the midst of our lack, and our weakness more deeply reveals His amazing strength.” He truly is our only and best help. Thank you so much for all of your prayers sweet friend. I am so grateful that our Jesus is with us through every moment. Blessings and love to you!

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  14. Dear Bettie, I found this post through Lisaanne’s blog. It is always a blessing to read of how the Lord is working, especially through His younger children. I look forward as i will be back to read more. In the meantime, if you have time, check a page on my blog ~ A Sheep’s View. Blessings to you.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your visit here today. Thank you for the invitation to your site also, I look forward to following your blog. I agree that it is such a blessing to read of the ways that the Lord is working here among us, His own dear sheep. Blessings to you!

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  15. Pingback: Endless Lack or Holy Fullness, Part 2 – BettieGsRAseasons

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