I chose this picture of the glass of water for this article and it struck me... staring at a glass of water that is still and calm makes it much easier to see and even declare the "glass is half full". This is my temperament, seeing things in a positive light. I appreciate that God has given me this outlook on things! As I think about this image further, I realize that a calm glass of water seldom depicts my life or anyone else's life for that matter. I started wondering what would be a better illustration?
As I considered this I noticed, that when the glass of water is "disturbed", or when life throws things into the glass... I find it harder to determine if the glass is full or going empty! This alone can be difficult as I try to get a grasp of the reality of things I grow more confused and frustrated. I desire the calm clear picture. In these seasons of "disturbance" I believe it is crucial not to look at the glass or what is in the glass, rather look at the One who fills your glass. I believe we see this concept throughout scripture.
In the 23rd Psalm the shepherd David states, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows." (NASB) What caused his cup to overflow in times of distress? I would like to assert that it was his overwhelming knowledge and awareness of the amazing love and grace of the One who fills us up. In 1 John 3:1 we are reminded, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (NIV) In Ephesians 1:7-8a we are told of the grace He "lavishes" on us! "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us." (NASB) The idea of "lavish" is something in great abundance. It gives the picture of you or I standing before the Lord with an empty cup, and God reaches over to use the ocean to fill up the cup as it overflows! He gives an abundance of His love and grace in this way.
Life will bring the disturbances, better some days described as trials and tribulations. We will echo the cries in our hearts along with the psalmist in the wilderness "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1 NASB) Yet, because He is One who lavishes on us His abundant love and grace we will also echo with the psalmist, "my soul is satisfied" and even those parched lips will proclaim, "My lips will praise You!".
I believe as we seek this perspective of God and realize regularly what He extends to us in abundance we will see the truth of Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (ESV) When we look at life's glass of water we will no longer view it, in disturbing times or calm, as half full or half empty... we will boldly declare with praise and confidence, "IT OVERFLOWS!"