The Beggar's Cup

We've all seen him, whether in a movie or on our daily commute to work downtown; the homeless man that stands at the busy intersection or on a crowded sidewalk with his outstretched cup.  He's hoping a passerby will be gracious enough, will slow down enough to give him the change they will never miss but could help him make it through another day.  It's a humbling sight each and every time I witness it and I pray my heart never forgets such images.

I'm blessed to have a roof over my head and more food than we can eat before the expiration date but spiritually, I have been just as bankrupt.  The sad part is, it's always of my own doing.  I remember one time in particular.  I was eight months pregnant with our first child when my husband and I decided to move, leaving behind all of our college, church and work friends.  We only moved a couple of hours away but to this people-loving girl, it might as well have been to the dark side of the moon. 

At first, I wasn't concerned.  I just knew I would make new friends and all would be right with the world.  Well, months went by and making new friends wasn't nearly as easy as I thought it would be.  It takes time to build solid relationships and soon I became desperate for companionship.  Let me just stop right here and tell you that any time you are desperate for anything, you are in dangerous territory, my friend!  My longing for the thirty minute phone conversations and laughs over lattes that I had enjoyed in my old town quickly became a recipe for disaster.

My friendship cup was empty and rather than turning to God to fill the void, I became like that beggar.  I extended my cup to anyone and everyone who was willing to fill it.  How dangerous!  Whatever area of your life feels lacking or incomplete (friendships, a romantic relationship, a missing father, an empty womb, etc), you can bet your bottom dollar that if you aren't turning to God someone or something will step in to fill the emptiness and it will leave you worse than empty when it's all said and done.  I gained "friends" alright but those relationships were never the way God intended.  They weren't bad people, they just weren't the people God set aside for me.

I vividly remember a conversation I had with God during this difficult time of my life where I begged Him for close friends.  His response was simple...I would not have close friendships until I learned to make Him my "best" friend.  He needed to be my top priority, the One I sought after, the One I turned to first.  Oh, how thankful I am for that life-changing conversation.  I finally took my empty cup to the Lord and boy did He fill it!!!  Luke 6:23 talks about the type of filling God does as "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over."  Whoo, I feel full just reading that!  It's the part that "runs over" that showers onto people around us, giving what is needed to maintain "healthy" relationships.  See, I wanted to take but I was so empty that I didn't have much to give.  If only I had gone to Him sooner.

If you are empty in an area of your life today, I challenge you to read the story of the Woman at the Well found in John chapter 4.  The Samaritan woman came to the well with nothing but an empty bucket and an even emptier heart.  She left her time with Jesus filled and if you spend time with Him, you'll leave the same way.  He is the only one who can fill you!

P.S - It took some time and a lot of learning to trust God, but now I am honored to call some of the most encouraging, God-seeking women I've ever known, my friends!  I still need the occasional reminder to make sure I'm spending time at the well with my Savior getting filled rather than relying on others but I'm moving in the Wright direction little by little.