A sign was posted on a telephone pole by the grocery store: “LOST DOG with three legs, blind in left eye, missing right ear, tail broken, and recently castrated. Answers to the name of Lucky!”
Perhaps you feel just about as “lucky” as that lost dog. Hobbling along. Impaired vision. Broken tail. Well, you get the picture. There was a woman in the Bible who also felt like she was out of luck and had nothing to give. But then God showed her how to fill up so that she could pour out. Her story is found in 1 Kings 17, and it begins with a man named Elijah.
Elijah was a good prophet who gave some bad news to a king named Ahab: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1 NIV). God knew that news would not go over very well with the king, so He told Elijah to flee eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine east of the Jordan. For several months, Elijah drank from the brook and ate bread and meat delivered by ravens that God miraculously sent to feed him.
Sometime later, the brook dried up. Now, if God could supply meat and bread every day, He could have easily provided water. But God had a different plan. He sent Elijah to Zarephath to a Gentile widow who needed a miracle in her life.
When he arrived, he called out to the woman. “Excuse me, could you please bring me a cup of water and a cake of bread?”
“I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug,” she said. “I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die” (1 Kings 17:12).
Now that was a discouraged, empty woman! Have you ever been right there with her? You want to scream, “I don’t have anything to give! Ask someone else!” I’ve been there. Let’s keep reading.
Elijah had good news for her.
“Don’t be afraid,” Elijah said. “Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land’” (verses 13-14).
She went home and did what Elijah had told her. After she emptied her bowl and jar to feed Elijah, she went home to find the jar full of flour, and the jug full of oil.
She was an empty woman, but when she took what little she had to offer encouragement to another, God filled her up.
I call this the Bucket Principle. I believe that each of us is given a bucket of encouragement. As we dip out of our bucket of encouragement and pour into others, God miraculously fills it back up.
Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Many times, we place a lid on our bucket of encouragement. I don’t have enough to give to someone else. I am drained dry, we moan. However, when we pour out, even in our emotional emptiness, God pours in and fills us back up.
What happened to the woman from Zarephath? “For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:16).
Dear Lord, I’m feeling rather empty today. Rather than feeling sorry for myself, show me someone I can encourage. Give me the words to say and the courage to say them. I pray that as I give encouragement to others, that You, Lord, will fill me back up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What is one way you get filled back up when you feel empty? Click on comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
The most common way we encourage others is with the words we speak. Our words shape the lives of others, for good or for bad. If you want to become more of an encourager and less of a discourager, check out Sharon’s book, The Power of a Woman’s Words: How the Words We Speak Shape the Lives of Others . Also, you might like to take the 5-Day Taming the Tongue Challenge. You might want to invite a group of friend to do it with you!
2024 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
Comments 26
I received my copy of “The power of a woman’s words”. This is a powerful little book. It sure gives you a lot to think about. I highly recommend it.
Single act of kindness
When I start feeling empty and sorry for my self in my situation I start thinking of people way more less fortunate than me and recently read in a section about being disconnected I pray for the people who are in a bad spot and ask God to reconnect me
Author
Me too.
I try to listen and encourage. It takes my mind of what I’m going thru and know there are others battling too
You are always encouraging.
My 16-year-old daughter who had complex medical needs and disabilities went home to be with the Lord on the 3rd of October. I know about ’empty’. Thank you for your writing Sharon. Blessings
Author
I am so sorry. Do you have a good support system? I see you live in the UK, is that right?
Olufunke, please know your sisters in Christ are lifting you up to the One who understands your emptiness. Praying that others around you will come near and show you God’s love and comfort.
I am deeply sorry for your loss. Praying that God fills you with His Peace and Compassion.
I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. May God bless you with the peace that passes all understanding. 🙏
I have long been a proponent of not only the words we speak, but HOW we speak them! Encouraging words spoken in a harsh voice, can bring more harm than good! Thank you Holy Spirit, for being a “listener “ of my words in my mind before I actually speak them! God always has the PERFECT PLAN if we take time to reach out to HIM.
When I feel I’m running on empty, I can get replenished with the Word of God—the Bread of Heaven—and the Living Water, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:4-Man shall live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
John 4:14-“Whoever drinks of this water shall never thirst.”
Thank you, Amen
Whenever I feel empty, I pray.
I send a card,with a personal message for them.
When I feel empty, I read my favorite scriptures and PRAY to my heavenly Father.
Thank you Sharon also for your encouraging words and prayers for us through your ministry!
I look forward to them each week. God Bless you all my sisters in Christ! 🙏
I’ve recently separated from an abusive marriage before we even reached our one year anniversary. I feel so confused, empty and lost at times. As I am struggling to find myself again I am reaching for God every minute of everyday through his word. Please pray for me.
Lord Jesus, we ask you to lift Valerie up in this time of need. Father, surround her with your comfort and love and help her to see things through your lens, that her confusion would subside. Lord that she would be filled and feel whole again. We understand we may never know why, but just help her to pick up the pieces and build something even bigger and better, with you as the foundation. We pray for her safety and that she would be protected from this abuse. Lord, give her the strength to see her true value and how you see her and that she is worthy, that she is amazing and Lord that you created something special In her. We pray for the spouse, I ask you grasp their heart, that they would experience your love and joy and turn from their wicked ways. Lord we need you daily now more than ever. We cannot let the enemy attack and win. We need to stand firm in Jesus Name. We give you Lord all the glory and praise, Even in the storms! In your Almighty name we pray, Amen
This encouraged me greatly! Keep my eyes looking out instead of in😊
The timing of this message is remarkable.
I need encouragement from the Lord!
Thank you for sharing His word on today.
Purchased two copies and was moved to share them with others. What powerful lessons on the use of our words!
Whenever I feel empty, I call many prayer lines & close my eyes & let others pray for me. I believe in the power of prayer!!! I also, reach out to others with uplifting, encouraging words, or do a act of kindness for others.
Until reading this message, I truly hadn’t realized how I filled up my bucket. I live alone [widowed] and rarely feel lonely, however, when I do, I volunteer. My regular volunteer day at a facility is on Mondays, however I have the luxury to go in on other days. It is a wonderful distraction and lifts me up and fills my bucket!
Author
Dottie, that’s a perfect example!!!
I return to the GIG devotion archives and pray for all the women in the comments that were posted to a particular reading. I do this not only to gain perspective about whatever I’m encountering (and bemoaning) and shift the focus off myself but also because the needs are so great in those comments that I don’t want to leave any of them without doing something that I know works. I understand the comments are a few years old, but there is no time in God’s realm so I just pray and let God figure it out 🙂