My cup runs over. ~ Psalm 23:5
Oh, how I wish I could say, “My cup runneth over,” but I can’t. My cup is empty. Dirty too… but we will talk about that another day.
Even as I try to write this, I am struggling because I am spiritually barren.
Why? How could this have happened?
I gave up on pursuing my relationship with God. I stopped spending time in His Word daily. And, then the storms came… and I was not prepared.
The last several months have been excruciatingly emotional. Stress, illness, death abounded all around us, and I was stripped of all I could give but never once dove into the replenishing spring of the Bible. Never tossed myself into the arms of my Savior.
As wives, mothers, daughters, friends, teachers, bloggers… we give of ourselves constantly, but how can we pour out when nothing is poured in?
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
~ John 10:10
Jesus doesn’t want us living like this. He did not come so that we would have empty lives. His desire is to have an intimate relationship with us and for us to be full… overflowing! However, this is not possible without us drawing near to Him… near enough for Him to touch us.
What have I been sacrificing by bowing to the busyness of my days? What have I missed by not spending time with my Lord? What was I not able to pour out because I was empty?
Have you ever felt empty like this? Are you feeling that way now?
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~ Psalm 16:11
We can turn back. We can commit to spending time daily in the presence of our Savior. It will not be easy because we have misplaced our priorities and it is hard to dig out of that habitual rut, but God is gracious and His mercies are new every morning. He promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him if we seek with all of our hearts. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Will you join me in His presence?
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This post definitely strikes a chord within me. I was struck with a crippling panic attack last month right after Christmas because of all the responsibilities that had been piled upon me. Seasonal depression didn’t help either. As I’m learning my way back out of this hole, I’m finding that God was with me the whole time. My cup isn’t as empty as I had assumed. It just felt that way because I allowed myself to leave myself behind to tend to others.
I understand that much too well. I never do anything for myself and lately I have really been thinking about how I would probably be a better person if I at least did something small for myself every once in a while. {{HUGS}} to you.