Trusting Enough To Give

Inspired by the blog You will never have enough by Edwin Friesen

Giving with Extra is Easy

Recently, I had the opportunity to do some work that gave us a little extra money at the end of the month. That boost made it so easy to pay the blessing forward as a gift to charity. I felt good about supporting people in need, and giving that money away didn’t change anything about my daily living.  But what if I hadn’t had that extra income this month?  If you are like me, giving when I don’t have extra is much more difficult.

Making Room for Generosity

When I am feeling worried about the future, maybe even thinking of holding back a gift, it helps me to reframe my donation in practical terms. I identify the things in my life that are equivalent to the value of the gift I want to give. Perhaps it means holding off on a purchase or taking the time to patch that hole in my jeans instead of buying a new pair. Maybe it means packing a bagged lunch or brewing my coffee at home. Once I have completed this inventory, I spend time in prayer and make a conscious choice to rearrange my priorities to make room for generosity. Breaking down a potential donation in this way always shifts my perspective. I discover a renewed gratitude for the blessings I have, and start to trust that I will be alright with a little less so someone else has a little more.

Discovering Gratitude

Edwin Friesen describes the freedom of this kind of trust saying, “It is in giving that we discover gratitude which is both the motivation and the reward of generosity. It is in giving that we break the bondage of greed and selfishness. Giving opens the door for God’s blessings to flow into our lives, and from us to others.”

Do you have a strategy that helps you cultivate generosity in your life? We’d love to encourage others by inviting you to share your generosity journey.