SWHW Two Year Bible Reading Plan: February, Year 2Sample

Top Takeaway from Michelle Myers:

Empty. 

Usually, when we hear the word "empty," the flesh doesn't gravitate toward gratitude. Maybe disappointment or fear? Maybe brokenness?

But here's the fact: empty is valuable. Empty is important. Emptiness is a critical part of a believer's life.

It's hard to get more empty than the widow Elisha meets in 2 Kings 4:1-7. Not only does she not have a husband, but she has no food, no money, and a creditor is coming to take her two children as his slaves to cover her debt. 

All she has in her house is one single jar of oil.

Elisha tells her to borrow as many jars as she can from her neighbors and specifically instructs her to not just get a few (2 Kings 4:3). So that's what she and her two sons do.

She begins pouring oil from her single jar, and as her sons continue coming to bring her borrowed jars, the oil keeps coming too. Finally, the widow asks her son for another vessel, and he tells her there is not another one. 

And when there is no longer another vessel, that is when the oil stops. 

When the widow told Elisha what happened, he instructed her to sell the oil to pay off her debt and for her and her sons to live on the rest (2 Kings 4:7). 

God's provision gave her a way to pay her debt, to provide for her needs, and to keep her family together. All she brought to the table was a single jar of oil, her emptiness, and her faith.

Her emptiness reminded her of her need. Her need combined with her faith drove her to seek God. Then, her faith combined with obedience allowed her to experience Him in a real and powerful way.

You see, her faith was represented by the number of jars she gathered. God filled every jar she borrowed. The oil didn't stop until there were no more jars for the oil to fill.

What if she had refused to gather the jars?

What if her emptiness drove her to self-pity or self-reliance instead of faith?

Her future was drastically different because she was aware of her emptiness, she admitted her emptiness, and she looked to God to get full.

Emptiness doesn't have to lead to striving in our strength or despair. Emptiness reminds us of our need for God and sets us up to seek His presence, His power, and His provision. 

So I don't know what has you feeling empty today, but I do know this: emptiness that deepens your dependence on God is a blessing. I'm praying you'll seek Him with your whole heart, and He will fill you in ways only He can.

God, change my perspective on emptiness. You are my Provider, and Lord, I never want to get to a place where I feel satisfied without You. Remind me often of Your presence and Your provision in my life. Show up in ways that increase my dependence on You. Turn any feelings of emptiness into immediate prayers for You to intervene. Not moping. Not striving. Just a front row seat to what You and only You can do. I love You. Amen.