Why You Feel Broke and Why Scrolling Makes You Poorნიმუში

Here's a startling reality: you likely are among the wealthiest people who have ever lived on this planet.

If you have a smartphone, access to clean water, and can choose from dozens of food options today, you live better than 99% of all humans throughout history. You have conveniences that kings of ancient empires couldn't dream of.

So why do so many of us feel broke?

Why does "enough" feel impossibly out of reach?

The answer lies in what I call the Abundance Paradox.

Previous generations knew they had "enough" when basic needs were met - food, shelter, safety. Their comparison pool was limited to their neighbors and immediate community.

But you and I?

We carry a device that exposes us to millions of curated lives daily.

Every scroll shows you someone with more - a better vacation, nicer home, more successful business, happier family. Our brains weren’t designed to handle unlimited comparison possibilities.

The apostle Paul wrote about contentment from a Roman prison. He had learned the "secret" of being satisfied whether he had plenty or little. That secret wasn't positive thinking or lowered expectations. It was understanding that his satisfaction came from his relationship with Christ, not his circumstances or possessions.

Paul's contentment was unshakeable because it wasn't based on external comparison. He measured his life against God's faithfulness, not other people's highlight reels.

The abundance you possess isn't the problem. The unlimited exposure to everyone else's abundance is what's stealing your peace. When you have no clear definition of "enough," nothing will ever feel like enough.

Today, I challenge you to recognize the abundance that surrounds you.

Look around your home, your life, and your relationships with fresh eyes.

What would previous generations consider miraculous about your everyday normal? Our Father has already provided abundantly, but endless scrolling has taught us not to see it.