Check the Cupboard

Some mornings the soul needs coffee, Scripture, and a gentle inspection of the emotional pantry.

You open the cupboard, and there it is: one tiny fluttering attitude labeled, "I'm fine," right beside the stale crackers of worry and the suspiciously expired box of "I'll deal with that later."

But Jesus does not shame us for having cupboards. He simply brings light. David prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart... and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). When our faith says, "Lord, here is the whole shelf." Grace says, "Good. Let's clean it together."

There was once a widow in Zarephath who knew what it felt like to open the cupboard and find almost nothing left. During a famine, she had only a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse. She was preparing one final meal for herself and her son when the prophet Elijah came and asked her to trust God with what remained. By faith, she obeyed, and the Bible says, "The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail" (1 Kings 17:8-16).

God did not ask her to pretend the cupboard was full. He met her in the honest place, the nearly empty space, the place where fear had been whispering. And there, God proved that a surrendered little is more than enough in His hands.

Today, walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Speak life and surrender what little we have left, because "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).

Cast your cares upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Refuse to let fear rent space in your head, because God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

And when the world feels loud, remember: Christ is not pacing heaven with a clipboard. He is reigning, interceding, and preparing a future where joy will not leak out of the bag. He "ever liveth to make intercession" for His people (Hebrews 7:25), and He has promised a place where God Himself will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).

So check the cupboard today. Let Jesus open the door in surrender, shine His light, and refill what worry tried to empty.