There’s something sacred about showing up empty.
We don’t talk about it enough. We celebrate strength, resilience, grit—but what about the days when you have nothing left? No fire. No joy. No sense of direction. Just the decision to show up anyway.
And yet, those are the moments when surrender becomes strength. When your hands are too tired to lift, but your heart still whispers, “Lord, I’m here.”
God Can Work With Empty
In 2 Kings 4, a widow tells the prophet Elisha, “I have nothing except a small jar of olive oil.”
It didn’t seem like much. But God took her emptiness and used it to overflow every jar she could find. Her miracle wasn’t in her abundance—it was in her surrender.
God doesn’t need your “enough.” He just needs your available.
He can do more with your nothing than you could ever do with your everything.
Stop Trying to Pour from an Empty Cup
The lie we often believe is that we must always be full to be useful. Full of energy. Full of vision. Full of words. But what if God is asking you to simply be present, even if you’re tired? What if He’s saying, “Let me fill you, not your schedule. Let me restore you, not your platform.”
Jesus often met people at the point of their depletion.
The woman with the issue of blood was out of strength. The man at the pool of Bethesda had no one to help. The disciples were exhausted from fishing all night. Yet it was after their emptiness that Jesus moved.
Empty Is an Invitation, Not a Disqualification
When you show up to God empty, you’re not disqualified—you’re positioned.
It’s humility. It’s honesty. And it’s often the very thing that makes room for God to pour.
Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus “emptied himself” by taking the form of a servant.
Even Christ modeled surrender before power. Empty isn’t weak—it’s where grace begins.
RELATED POSTS
- The Strength of Surrender: Trusting God Fully
- Finding Joy Without Pretending You’re Not Still Hurting
- Why Fruit Comes Before Gifts
- When God Changes Your Purpose
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Accounts Manager and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
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Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr.
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Accounts Manager and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
