What’s in Your Cup?
I enjoy my morning coffee (and sometimes an extra in the afternoon, and a bedtime hot chocolate or herbal tea). I’ve collected a variety of mugs over the years, each with some sentimental meaning. Every one of them reminds me of a person, a place, or a moment that has shaped my life. This one is a favorite.
Recently, a guest preacher shared a story that used a cup of coffee as an illustration. He described a group of people gathered for coffee served by a professor. The professor poured the coffee into a variety of cups—some elegant china, some plain mugs, even a paper cup or two. As people showed a preference for the nicer cups, the professor observed that life is like the coffee, not the cup. The cup might represent our jobs, possessions, or status, but those things don’t define us. It’s the coffee—our actual life, relationships, and purpose—that matters most.
As I thought more about my special mugs and possessions in general, I realized the “stuff” isn’t what holds meaning. Many of my valued possessions only hold value because of the memories attached to them. They remind me of people I love and moments I cherish.
As I was still reflecting on the lesson of the cup, my cousin shared something her preschooler said that drove the point deeper. While reciting Psalm 23, he confidently proclaimed, “My cup runneth over me.” I immediately recalled the expression, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” often used to encourage self-care. reminds us that rest and renewal don’t come from within—they come from God’s abundant provision: “My cup runneth over.” God doesn’t just fill us for our own sake. His goodness and mercy overflow into our lives and the lives of others through our words and actions.
David doesn’t describe a life barely hanging on. He describes a life overflowing with mercy, goodness, and the presence of the Shepherd. Not just full, but spilling over. Louie Giglio writes in Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, “God prepares a table for you. Right in the middle of your enemies. And there’s an overflowing cup—not a half-full one, not barely enough. God is a God of abundance, and He’s offering you more than enough.”
It’s not just about survival—it’s about thriving in the presence of the Shepherd, even when the pressure or opposition is real. The overflow isn’t accidental. It’s a visible, generous reminder that God is with us, and He is more than enough.
Wisdom often comes in the mix-ups of children. My sweet cousin proves this. When we allow God to pour into us, our cup overflows. If we’re willing, that overflow can bless everyone in our path—our families, our communities, and our daily interactions. As we recognize what He’s already poured in, we’re able to bless others and create waves of joy.
The truest meaning in life is found through connection—the people we love, the memories we share, the relationships we nurture. These fill and flavor our lives.
How do you fill your cup—and who will share the overflow?