Learn how to overcome a scarcity mindset through Scripture and trust in God’s provision. Find encouragement for fears around money, time, energy, and more.
Have you ever found yourself saying, “There’s just not enough”—not enough money, time, energy, opportunity, or even love?
That quiet voice of fear can so easily shape the way we live, pushing us to protect, control, or withhold.
But God never intended us to live from a place of fear.
He invites us into a different mindset – a trust-filled life, grounded in His goodness and provision.
Whether you’re facing financial uncertainty, emotional exhaustion, or the weight of too many responsibilities, this post is a gentle invitation to shift your heart from scarcity to abundance, through Him.
My own personal struggle with a scarcity mindset is what inspired this post. The other morning, I sat down with my journal and knew this was an area I wanted to tackle. I started doing a braindump that kept growing into pages and pages of ideas, Bible verses, and more.
Here is the journal page graphic that started it all (please excuse my not-very-neat handwriting!).
The Scarcity Mindset: Rooted in Fear
A scarcity mindset often begins with fear.
Fear of failure. Fear of being overlooked. Fear of running out. And fear convinces us that we must grip tightly to what we have, because we may never get more.
Here are some ways fear shows up in our thoughts and behaviors with a scarcity mindset:
- “Not enough“ – We feel like we’re always lacking: not enough money, rest, or even worth.
- Stress, anxiety, procrastination – We get stuck in overwhelm or avoidant patterns.
- Greed or jealousy – We may feel threatened by others’ success.
- Low empathy and selfishness – We turn inward to protect ourselves.
- Short-term thinking – We make decisions out of panic, not purpose.
- Competitiveness and stinginess – We withhold rather than give or collaborate.
These are real struggles, and if you see yourself in any of these words, you’re not alone. You’re just human. But you were never meant to stay here.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
The Abundance Mindset: Rooted in Trust
The opposite of fear isn’t courage – it’s trust. And trust in God changes everything.
When we live from a place of trust, we begin to experience the fruit of His Spirit in our thoughts and actions.
Here are some qualities of a trust-filled mindset:
- Hopeful and optimistic – We believe God is still working.
- Relaxed and encouraging – We stop striving and start building others up.
- Generous and giving – We know our Source is never empty.
- Living fully and embracing risk – We follow God’s lead with faith.
- Empathetic and collaborative – We make space for others and share freely.
- Focused on opportunity and possibility – We look for what God can do.
- Seeing failure as growth – We release perfection and trust the process.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
—Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Inviting God Into the Shift
Changing your mindset isn’t about trying harder—it’s about trusting deeper. It’s not a one-time leap, but a thousand small moments of surrender that come from an ever-deepening relationship with the Lord.
Here are a few invitations to help you move from fear to trust in practical, grace-filled ways:
1. Name Your “Not Enough”
Take a moment to identify where you feel scarcity today. Is it time? Money? Patience? Ask the Lord to meet you right there.
Prayer Prompt: “Lord, I feel like I don’t have enough ______. But You are my Shepherd. Teach me to trust that I lack nothing with You.”
2. Release the Tight Grip
What are you holding tightly to? Control, approval, a plan? Invite God to open your hands and replace fear with peace.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
—1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
3. Practice Small Acts of Abundance
Do one small thing today that reflects a trust-based mindset and stretches your comfort zone – encourage a friend, share a resource, rest without guilt, or give just a little more generously than feels comfortable.
4. Renew Your Mind with Truth
Scripture is one of the most powerful ways to rewire a scarcity mindset. Memorize verses that remind you of God’s provision and presence.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
—Romans 12:2 (NIV)
A Closing Encouragement
You are not behind. You are not too late. You are not too much or not enough.
You are held by a God who is never limited by time, money, energy, or circumstance. He is a God of abundance, and He delights in taking care of His children so personally and with great detail.
And He’s not asking you to get it all right today (we will always need a Savior, after all).
He’s simply asking you to take one small step of trust—one page, one prayer, one “yes” at a time.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”
—Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
