Focus on what you have and you'll gain what you lack

​Often times, the things we lack in life are lacks we imagine. Lacks we've created in our minds as explanations for a life not going so well. They are the things we tell ourselves - 'if I only had this' - life would be better.

If I only had a better paying job.
If I only had the perfect relationship.
If only I was bigger or faster or stronger.
If only, if only, if only....

I've been through this many times in my life. I've been through the cycle of 'lacking' something, then getting it, only to discover there were things I was still lacking.

It turns out, for me at least, that lacking isn't a condition of life, it's a way of looking at life.

It's a way of skipping gratitude in the interest of chasing things you think will fill you with an ultimate gratitude. The net result of that chase is you live a life always feeling like you're lacking something.

I've told people lately, my relationship with God is closer than it's ever been. Because lately, the more I focus on what I'm lacking, the louder I hear God saying, 'but you have me.'

Last week I got to focusing on finances. Started thinking about the things I wanted to do this summer. I also got to thinking about how things are a little more challenging lately when it comes to money. And so there I was, taking a deep dive into the world of 'lacking.'

Lack. Lack. Lack. I could almost hear the drill bit unearthing all the things I was lacking.

It was a Friday. On Fridays I always go to my online bank account to make sure payroll money has been deposited in there. I noticed an extra deposit from my part-time job. Turns out, a letter telling us about an upcoming bonus had been mailed to my old address.

But there it was - unexpected money.

Sure, many of you will say a beautifully timed coincidence.

But I've experienced enough of these beautifully timed coincidences in my life to know it wasn't a coincidence at all. It was God. And not God handing out bonus checks, but God handing out a reminder.

A reminder that when I focus on what I lack, I will lose what I have. But when I focus on God, he is always going to provide me what I lack.

The beautiful thing about God providing what I lack; he's always good to provide what I actually lack - not what I think I lack.

There are many days lately I can get to thinking that God is all I have. And on those days, I get to feeling like I have more than I've ever had.

It's the beauty of focusing on what we have and not what we lack.