Have any of us ever searched online for just the right item—quality, size, style, price, etc., and actually found it—only to see those dreaded words underneath the name—OUT OF STOCK?! It’s downright disheartening!

And it’s not just product sellers that run out of stock, don’t have sufficient supply, or worse yet, literally promise and don’t deliver because it’s gone.

  • People, especially those deemed “important” or “popular”, have limited time for others.
  • Organizations, teams, clubs, universities, etc., have limited space— room for only so many to be accepted and join.
  • Companies and businesses have limited openings for employment—they can only hire so many, maybe just one, at a time.
  • Those whose help we really need have limited energy—they can only do so much before they have to set boundaries for their own self-care, so they don’t collapse from exhaustion.
  • Charitable groups, ministries, and relief organizations have limited resources, including money, time, and capacity. There’s only so much of them and their resources to go around, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

But lest we despair of getting our real needs met (did you really need that air-fryer, when you hadn’t even heard of air-fryers five years ago?) – here’s the good news—

The Lord never runs out of stock! His supply never ends, and always exceeds the demand in every area of life!

That’s why David could write, in Ps. 23:1—“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Does this mean we all have everything possible in the whole world? No. We don’t need or even want everything in the world (where would we keep it, anyway?). It means we can feel content, at peace, knowing He can and will provide all we need, not just barely, but abundantly, both the tangible and intangible. He has more than enough financial resources, time, space, energy, and love to fulfill all our requirements.

Not only does this relieve a lot of stress, anxiety, victim vs. victor mentality, it also allows us to rejoice in each other’s successes. We know that one person’s portion of the “pie” doesn’t leave less or none for us. Everyone can win at the same time.

  • Someone’s promotion means the company will keep growing so others can get promoted too.
  • Someone’s ministry success means more opportunity for us to minister according to our own gifts.
  • Someone else gets that corporate or ministry role we were really hoping for. Now what? In our Good Shepherd’s “company”, where He’s the top boss, He’ll make sure we get the best role for us too, even the same role! Who said there can’t be more than one VP or worship leader in a growing organization or church?
  • Someone else in our class gets an A or even A+ in the course. The Lord doesn’t grade on a curve. All of us can get As and A+s!
  • Someone else buys something high-quality at a great-deal price, but no worries, because even if they run out, the Lord will make sure we get in on a great deal too! He can stock any shelf anywhere with any product. No more slavery to pressure-anxiety from marketers who insist that we “Hurry, only 2 left!”
  • Your friend you wanted to talk to or get help from is too busy, but you remember you have another friend you can ask for their time/help, and he/she is not only available, but glad to talk and/or help and it turns out even better.

He can do that for everyone on the planet, all at once, because his storehouse never  empties out, and his well never runs dry. As our perfect and Good Shepherd, he provides for us completely and tenderly.

“’So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’” Mat. 6:31-33.

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;  for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” Ps. 95:6-7

Come to Him with our needs. And don’t worry about rushing to get our “order” in before He runs out of stock. In fact, even better, He knows what we need even before we ask (Mat. 6:8). Therefore, as promised, we can always take stock in His unlimited supply:

“My God will supply all [our] needs according to His riches in glory.” Phil. 4:19 (brackets mine)