Valleys Fill First

"The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah." 1 Kings 16:17

So truthfully, I am getting quite worn out with this semester. I probably took on more than I should have and stress more than I should. But today I was reminded of the story of Elijah and the widow. The widow had faith, not because her jar was already full, but because she trusted in the future promise of its filling. God uses weak and empty vessels so that He can provide and show forth His strength and make His name great. That is something we as Christians should want but all too often we begin to rely on our strength or the blessings that God has provided. So it is not up to us to be strong so that God can use us, but we can be, and most certainly are, weak and broken people who have faith in the promise of God's sufficiency as evidenced by His past faithfulness to Himself and to us. And what a comfort that should be to us.

This is the valley that I’m walking through
And if feels like forever since I've been close to you
My friends up above me don't understand why I struggle like I do
My shadow's my only, my only companion and at night he leaves too

Down in the valley, dying of thirst
Down in the valley, it seems that I'm at my worst
My consolation is that you baptize this earth
when I’m down in the valley, valleys fill first

Down in this wasteland I miss the mountaintop view
but it's here in this valley that I'm surrounded by you
Though I'm not here by my will- it's where your view is the most clear
so I'll stay in this valley if it takes 40 years

And it's like that long Saturday your death and the rising day
When no one wrote a word, wond'ring is this the end
But you were down there in the well, saving those that fell
Bringing them to the mountain again

~Caedmon's Call (the best band ever!)