Is Your Cup Running Over?

My cup runneth over Psa 23:5 KJV

Everyday we awaken is a blessing. Some days feel more blessed than others if we're honest. Some days as I'm riding along to whatever destination I'm headed to, I note my surroundings. A warm summer day awash in greenery. A beautiful autumn day, painted with all the fall hues, with a crispness in the air. The first snow, untouched by feet or tires. In the spring, the budding of the trees and longer days. Taking in God's in handiwork, for me, ushers in a cup filled to the brim and overflowing. Peaceful. Serene. Inviting.

For those of you not exactly nature lovers, your cup, like mine overflows at good news, a good prognoses, a new job(or simply a job), financial windfall, new home, re-connecting with family/friends, new baby, new car, new relationship, or your marriage is thriving. All these contribute to an overall feeling of well being, and your cup is filled with joy to the brim and overflowing. If you have several of these happening at once, your cup is overflowing to the point your mind cannot comprehend the blessings bestowed upon you. You jus a blessed man! You jus a blessed woman! Then you begin to feel unworthy. But God decides. So your haters can kick rocks, because God makes no mistakes, and baby, it's your turn. Rejoice. Hallelujah! You start feeling Psa 23:6 now. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. You start thinking, if you're a decent person, about sharing the bounty the Lord has gifted you with. After all, He didn't give it to you to keep all to yourself.

Then BAM! You knew there was a bam/but didn't you? We cannot get through life without the downs. No one escapes the downs, in some fashion or another. You start to have a leak in your cup. The leaks come in the form of bad news, bad diagnosis, lost job, financial reversal, foreclosure, repossession, the loss of a loved one, a breakup, or a divorce on the horizon. Leaks everywhere. Sometimes, a couple at the same time. Before you know it, your cup is bone dry. And everyday it seems as if there's something else. Dang, what did  I do? Feeling all like Job. The question is not what you did, it's what do I do now?

First, instead of running to the phone, run to the Creator. You can tell God whatever is on your heart whenever you need to. It doesn't have to be some long, drawn out, pretty prayer. A simple "Help me Lord" will get His attention. He never promised sunny days and overflowing cups. What He did promise was to always be with us. Through whatever. Jn14:1 Let not your heart be troubled, is really difficult when you're going through. In this life our hearts will be troubled, from time to time. Even Jesus' heart was troubled in the garden of Gethsemane. He feels us y'all. He understands.

What's key to remember is what we've always heard. We pass through storms. We don't take up residence. If you've ever watched the weather on tv, you know storms are always on the move. Be it snowstorms with bone chilling temperatures, or tornados and hurricanes, they never set up shop. They're are in constant motion. They pass. Sadly, sometimes, they leave death and destruction in their wake. We grieve, we rally together, we rebuild, and life moves forward with a sense of normalcy returned. Whether you are a willing participant or not, you notice a drop of water in your cup. It grows slowly and consistently until it's almost to the top. And you wonder, how on earth did I make it through? And you're grateful. So grateful. And pleased, content, maybe even happy again. You're strengthened, better equipped for the next storm. Because this side of paradise, there will be another. You check your cup and it's overflowing again. You can tell as you hum or sing along while you're busting those suds. You can tell when you reach inside the whip and turn up the music while you wipe it down. You survived! You made it through to the other side. To God the be glory for the things He has done.

Friday's blog is supposed to be about human trafficking...as far as I know 👫

Addendum. This was not supposed to be what my first blog consisted of. I kept wondering, where is this coming from? I've had one written out for MONTHS! Seriously! Then I decided, it must be for someone. Just recently, I discovered that someone was me. It's been a rough summer, but praise be unto God I've reached the other side. You cannot imagine how grateful I am. Hang in there somebody, God will bring you out, just like me.
Ninakupenda