“My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5c, NIV). These three simple words come from one of the most popular psalms in the Bible, Psalm 23. These words have given me so much life and encouragement during my first full-time ministry experience this past summer. On the days when I was exhausted, these were the words I came back to. On the days where there were many wins, I rejoiced out of them. There are three things that God taught me through them.
God Provides in Abundance
The first lesson is that God provides for us in abundance. With God, we have everything that we need (Psalm 23:1), but he doesn’t just provide enough, he provides more than enough. This is an important lesson to remember in ministry and in life. There are days where we are tired and aren’t enough. We can rest in God’s power especially in those moments. He can provide for us in all of the ways we need. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) says that “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” God can do so much more than we ever could, and we should continually place our full trust in him that he will.
When we serve out of this abundance, we are less prone to burn out. In the church, it is common to talk about how we need to fill our cup before we serve so we don’t get burnt out. The truth is, we need to be doing life with Jesus and always remain connected to him (John 15:1-17). If we let the Holy Spirit work through us, we will see more fruit than we ever could on our own. It is all out of his power.
“We need to be doing life with Jesus and always remain connected to him.”
Abundant Joy
The second lesson is that since God overflows our cup, we can have abundant joy! He blesses us with so many good things which bring satisfaction to our lives. Even in the midst of hard times, we can have joy.
This reminds me of when Paul says in Philippians 4:4 (NIV) to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Because God provides everything we need, we can have joy in the moments where life is hard. Living in the world is not easy and I won’t deny it. Sometimes, when I am focusing on how God is blessing others and not focusing on how God blesses me, I become so jealous and discontent. It worsens the issue. When I remember that God overflows my cup, I become less jealous of others and become more content. I become joyful because of how God provides in every way I need.
God Wants Us
The final lesson is that God genuinely wants us. The beginning of Psalm 23:5a says that God prepares a table for us. The Israelites were huge on hospitality. If you were invited over to a host’s home, they served you. If you ran out of a drink in your cup and a host refilled it, they wanted you to stay. If they didn’t refill your cup, it was time to leave.
God keeps filling our cup to the point that it overflows. When God overflows our cup, he is reminding us that he wants us to be with him. He truly wants us. Even before we were Christians and believed, God died for us and wanted us.
“When God overflows our cup, he is reminding us that he wants us to be with him.”
Sometimes it is easy to forget how loved we are by God. Even though he does not need us at all, he still wants us—which is mind-blowing. I need this reminder often. My work and my life don’t make me any more loved or less loved by God. We are all just loved by God for existing as image bearers of him. This idea is reinforced in Psalm 23:6. It says that with no doubt, God’s goodness and mercy will be with us for the rest of our lives. There is not a single moment that God will leave us, even when we feel like it. When life gets hard, he is with us, and he understands what it is like (Hebrews 4:15). We can rest in the fact that our Savior and King understands.
Come to Jesus’ table, and invite others to join too. There is a spot waiting for you! Cling onto the three simple words “my cup overflows,” when you feel like you are not enough, when you feel unloved, or are in a difficult time. Rejoice and remember these words daily.
