The key turned in the lock as I rushed to put dinner in Tupperware. I turned to hug him and met his eyes. They looked dead.
“Sara, I’m a shell of myself,” Peter said.
I squeezed him tighter, but there was no time to talk — our carpool was here.
But then, I witnessed something incredible.
As we settled in at the house church gathering, my husband picked up his guitar like he always did. I could see the weariness in his shoulders. It has been a hard season, and we had nothing left to give.
God, however, is not finite, and he doesn’t grow weary. He had much to give, and he did it through Peter. That night, our group worshiped for over an hour, praying, weeping, and singing in unity. God’s presence felt near — like a glimpse of Heaven.
Peter showed up empty, and God worked mightily through him.
Maybe you are empty right now. You’re at the end of your rope, unsure of how you’ll face tomorrow, let alone serve God and make him known.
If we look at Scripture, it’s often the empty, unqualified, and unable people that God uses most mightily. The empty and weak get out of their own way and are in the perfect position to see God’s power working. They’re also in the perfect position to show other’s God’s power. When others see our weakness, it shows them that all we are able to do is from God, not ourselves.
Jesus even “emptied himself” and “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8) Then God displayed his amazing love and power by raising Jesus from the dead and simultaneously saving us from our sins.
If you are empty right now, lean into it. Banish shame and fear. Empty is the example, not the enemy. When we empty ourselves and submit to God’s will and power, incredible things happen.
Lord God, thank you for making me limited and finite, and for the chance that gives me to glorify you. Thank you for being all-powerful and all-loving. How do you want to work in my life today?
Throughout the day: If you are not empty, is there anything you need to let go of? If you are empty right now, look up. Look around. What is God doing?
Photo Credit: Morteza Akhnia