How To Pour From An Empty Cup When You’ve Been Called

Have you ever heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”? Oh, well. It is not written in the Bible and I have been asked to inspire you so that you can destroy that empty cup - the particular one you’ve been trying to fill.

Pouring Yourself

As a Christian. Wife. Mother of two beautiful girls. Author, blogger, teacher, speaker, and book lover. I am heavy on SELF CARE this year. I said it here. Yeah.

HeartRays (This blog) has been my safe space to share all things Christian - singlehood, (un)employment, marriage, fashion, motherhood and conservative issues since 2014. I believe in bold truth-telling, authenticity and purposeful living.

Each time I am privileged to look back on this journey, I am utterly thankful and filled with courage to just keep showing up. Blogging is a form of self-care. I only realized this a few minutes ago. Immediately I decided to draft this blog post, I started getting it.

It was a lightbulb moment when I realized that sharing my life (whether by writing, speaking or taking photographs) is a form of self care. I imagined it like a cup being poured out and the Holy Spirit tells me, “no girl, rivers of living water are flowing out of you!” 

I am not a cup. Hahaha!

We are talking about rivers here. Rivers. Plural. Rivers. Rivers. Oh, Jesus!

I only have to stay believing in Him to keep the river flowing. Oh my!

I have been SO tempted to buy the lies that the devil was selling to me. When it comes to discipleship, hospitality, motherhood, Bible teaching, or just about anything else I’m called to, I find I’m regularly tempted by the same question: “How can I pour from an empty cup?” In other words, if I’m not filled with what (or who) I think I need, how will I ever have enough to give?

I’m tired. I’m stressed. It’s not easy. I’ve come to believe though, that these are lies from the pit of hell. How could you turn down a speaking invitation that would bless many souls just because you feel that you are tired???

Come on! Pray in the Spirit and begin to declare:

I am worthy. I am enough. I have what it takes.

I have received grace, speed and ease.
Out of my heart are flowing rivers of living water!

I am fully conscious of my reality as a woman sent and backed up by God!
Out of my belly are flowing rivers of living water!

I have learned through some very tough experiences that the harder our days are, the closer we draw to God. We give and serve because He gives to us. It is in our weakness that He is made strong. Feeling empty? That’s a more in-filling. Isn’t God amazing?!

Who even told us that it’s a cup we need for all we’ve been called to do?

I will be going deeper into self care in subsequent posts. I mean, the entire year would be about exploring self care. I initially thought it’d be about taking care of my natural hair, LOL. I hear the Holy Spirit say, “the joke is on you.”

Apparently, self-care is further defined as the ability to care for oneself through awareness, self-control, and self-reliance in order to achieve, maintain, or promote optimal health and well-being. Three attributes were identified: awareness, self-control, and self-reliance. 

This awareness is opening me up to everything that God has for me. 

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”

John 7:38 ESV

Sweetie, you have been called to share the Gospel and be a servant. You may be raising little children, or caring for the elderly, or loving a difficult person. What God asks, He gives strength to complete. Whether you’re tired, busy, overwhelmed, depressed, emotionally drained…whatever. The LORD is your strength. He is filling you up as you go.

Out of you are rivers of living water. Just believe. 

Stay inspired.

Written by Nwamaka Onyekachi

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