Why “Full” Runs Out at the Bottom of Human Buckets
Human buckets run dry faster than we keep them full. Why?
Even though we are wired for God’s filling, we learn to self-fill. Labor that never gets to take a break. Since humans are never able to keep buckets full.
So to continue our theme from last week, Keep Going Back to the Source, we transform our thinking about long-lasting satisfaction.
You see, the two main ways we fill our buckets is with life’s stuff and substitutes for God.
But here are the problems with our bucket-filling techniques.
(1.) There are expiration dates on life’s stuff.
Maybe you or your church collects non-perishables for local food banks. Items with a long shelf life for the underprivileged.
Poor in spirit, we have intangible needs that never expire. Like grace, love, mercy, joy, peace, and hope. Although they seem abstract, we actually take hold of them when we go to God. Because unlike things that expire, God manifests these characteristics in our lives. And they never run out.
Yet, when our silent screams for attention remain unnoticed, we turn to life’s stuff to fill our buckets. Stuff with expiration dates such as the perfect body, aspirations, accolades, or material possessions.
Life’s stuff only temporarily fills empty spaces, never empty souls. Real fullness is not dictated by anything life offers but revealed in Jesus. He’s eternal and He has no expiration date.
There are expiration dates on life's stuff. It only temporarily fills empty spaces, never empty souls. Real fullness is revealed in Jesus. He's eternal and He has no expiration date. #abundance #empty Click To TweetChrist exchanges our empty for His full: our lack for His bounty (Psalm 65:11), our shame for His mercy (Ephesians 2:4), our sorrow for His joy (Isaiah 35:10), our weakness for His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), and our worry for His peace (John 16:33).
(2.) Filling deep needs with surface substitutes never equals fulfillment.
Various circumstances in life create empty buckets: failed marriages, loved ones died, or fizzled dreams.
Blank spaces and empty places come in many shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common: they are void of the One who was always meant to fill them.
Blank spaces and empty places come in many shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common: they are void of the One who was always meant to fill them. #abundance #empty Click To TweetTemporary substitutes take the place of the better thing God has for us because we grew impatient. Biblical people also settled for substitutes. In Genesis 16, Sarah is childless and devises a plan for her servant girl to conceive her husband Abraham’s child. Sarah regretted her scheme which caused much heartache. If Sarah had only waited on God, He allowed her to birth a son in her old age.
Likewise, we grow weary in the wait and turn to substitutes. But what if instead of taking matters into our own hands, we learned to lay them in the able hands of the Lord? The things God has waiting for us are worth the wait.
If we fill ourselves, we are slaves to it. When we self-fill with substitutes, we jeopardize God’s provision—no room for Him.
Whether we crave acceptance or appreciation or a secure identity, our cravings are met through the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10.
A full life we never strive for. It naturally happens the more we know Christ. It’s ours by resting in God’s promises, not working to fill ourselves.
We realize the abundant life is not a promise of possessions, but a promise we possess the most important parts of life.
Like faith, steadfast love, the Lord’s leading, strength for times of waiting, comfort in times of trouble, healing for a wounded heart, and God’s glory in us.
We realize the abundant life is not a promise of possessions, but a promise we possess the most important parts of life. Like faith, steadfast love, healing, comfort, and so much more. #abundance #empty Click To TweetTake These Steps for Full Buckets
Recall reality. Recount the times we filled our bucket with life’s stuff and sought instant gratification for deep needs. The gratification vanished and left us searching for more. Because the high never lasted.
Lay down the lie. Once we understand life’s items expire and substitutes leave us in a worse condition than before. We lay down the lie these bucket-filling actions fulfill us.
Pick up God’s truth. We replace false hope of filling with what and who satisfies our soul. “But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life” (John 4:14, AMP).
And we replace false beliefs of real fulfillment with the promise of abundance. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, ESV).
If we could fill our buckets, we wouldn’t need God. If we were never empty or never felt barren and depleted, we wouldn’t need a Savior. Nothing life offers ever saved us.
So we need what only comes from and through God.
This is Kingdom filling and living: full souls, God’s abundance, no expiration dates.
Which bucket-filling thought resonates most with you?
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected and Faith On Fire.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
A-Men Sister I like the way you wrote this message, such a good reminder of God being our source and not other things. This is definitely a time to empty our buckets of what we thought was so important and start using the steps you suggested to fill it up with Him. God Bless and be safe
Thanks, Stephen. If we just recount that every time we fill our own buckets, it never brings satisfaction quaranteed. Only Jesus does that. God bless!
Karen, so many need this message now. It is not just healing from a temporal virus that is needed but the healing of life without God at the center.
“Healing from a life without God at the center.” Love that, Pam! Because we know God and Jesus are eternal and neither have expiration dates! Hallelujah!
So much truth for today as we find ourselves in a time where all the things that filled our buckets in the past are not available. We must seek the Lord to fill us today and always.
So true, Yvonne. Much of what we strive after is not even available. May we remember the Lord alone truly fills us in the middle of a pandemic and in the middle of when life seems good.
Excellent word Karen and I think we can fall succumb to taking matters in our hands and substituting what we really need versus what we do because deep down we have never learned who we are in Christ. Who we were designed to be and what our God- given uniqueness is supported to contribute. The hole never gets filled and an unsettleness of heart can make us spin our wheels in vain. We are wonderfully made and need the intimate heart and blueprint from God. It is a time for all of us to re-examine how willing we are to do what we were designed to even if it runs against our desires. Our true delight in Him will align us better and He will then our hearts will desire what He desires. I love Jeremiah 33:3” Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know “. At one time or another we all fall victim to vain striving but it is never too late to readjust. Indeed He knows us better than we know ourselves. May many find this post as a time to enter a new day with renewed focus😀👍🙏🙏
Hi Valerie, I like how you said, “the hole never gets filled.” Such a good way to say it. And it is never too late to re-adjust to letting the Lord fill us! If we could fill our buckets, we wouldn’t need God. If we were never empty or never felt barren and depleted, we wouldn’t need a Savior. Nothing life offers ever saved us. So we need what only comes from and through God.
Love this! “Christ exchanges our empty for His full: our lack for His bounty (Psalm 65:11), our shame for His mercy (Ephesians 2:4), our sorrow for His joy (Isaiah 35:10), our weakness for His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), and our worry for His peace (John 16:33).
We can try to fill ourselves and so often I do try. Life gets discouraging and I get impatient. But, whatever I fill myself with I will become a slave to… wow, what truth. It’s easy to see why there are so many addictions.
Thank you for this post, Karen!
Thanks so much, Stephanie. When we self-fill with substitutes, we jeopardize God’s provision—no room for Him. We are a slave if we fill ourselves…back in bondage once again. And yes, the addictions often come as a result of looking for things to satisfy us that were never meant to and will never offer the satisfaction quarantee from the Lord’s filling.
This is so important. I was a working alcholic for a long time. I tried so many times to quit, but always felt like I was loosing a piece of me. Until, I started reading the Bible , then I realized I had a Jesus- size hole I was trying to fill. After, almost a year of seeking Him and letting Him tear away layers of hurt, condemnation, shame and guilt, I surrendered my obession of alcohol! It’s been 2 and half years now, and I feel so full of His love . That hole was filled the moment I surrendered it to Him! There is no greater Joy than the contentment of being whole in Jesus! Amen!
“A Jesus-size hole I was trying to fill.” That’s good, Carla. So glad for your surrender to the Lord and laying down the obsession. I’m sure it’s very freeing. No thing or person completes us. The Lord alone completes us and makes us whole. Blessings!
Loved this post Ms. Karen. You are so right ma’am; our “human buckets” run dry very quickly. The heat of our trials evaporate, the hustle and bustle of our everyday existence causes spillage. And we sometimes pour out so much of ourselves in trying to do everything and help others, we forget we need to save some for ourselves. Perhaps that why I try to always ask God to keep my spiritual cup overflowing, so His overflow finds its way more and more into my human version. God’s blessings ma’am.
“His overflow finds its way more and more into my human version.” Yes, I like that!
“But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life” (John 4:14, AMP).
Filling my bucket with His love and glory. 🙂 I am thankful I don’t have to depend on myself for joy. God is with me every moment. He is with all of us every moment. Great message Karen.
Thanks, Melissa. I’m laying down my bucket-filling actions for the true source of filling the deep needs of my soul!
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, ESV).
Nothing life offers us could ever fill or satisfy us. May we seek out the Lord to fill our souls with hope and joy that cannot be taken from us.
Blessings, Karen!
Amen, Martha. Once we understand life’s items expire and substitutes leave us in a worse condition than before. We lay down the lie these bucket-filling actions fulfill us.
“Lay down the lie. Pick up the truth.”
That’s something I have to be soooo intentional about doing!
Me too, Ava. It takes an intentional choice and decision to replace false hope of filling with what and who satisfies our soul.
This was thought provoking, Karen. I think this time of uncertainty and distancing makes it especially tempting to fill up on lesser things. May our satisfaction be in Him!
Hey Bethany, it is a time we “fill up on lesser things.” So glad the abundant life is never something we strive for. It naturally happens the more we know Christ. It’s ours by resting in God’s promises, not working to fill ourselves.
Ah, this definitely hit home. You are right: “So we need what only comes from and through God.” Sometimes I THINK I need more or different, but I truly do not. I just need Jesus and His way/path for me.
Yes, Jessica! We need Jesus and our heavenly Father’s plan and filling. Like faith, steadfast love, the Lord’s leading, strength for times of waiting, comfort in times of trouble, healing for a wounded heart, and God’s glory in us.
I’ve been meaning to write about this myself. Excellent words. Hope you and yours are doing well.
We are well, Mandy. Pray you and your family are too. May we remember life’s stuff only temporarily fills empty spaces, never empty souls. Real fullness is not dictated by anything life offers but revealed in Jesus. He’s eternal and He has no expiration date.
Karen, oh how I pray empty souls will read your words. When I didnt believe in God, I filled those “spaces” as you so well described … and filled them and filled them but ached inside. Even now sometimes I reach for ice cream instead of my Savior. Thank you, sister.
Hey Julie, I pray many see this too. We were created for God’s filling. Yet, we learn to self-fill to satisfy the ache we feel. Deceived about what and who really satisfies the thirst and hunger of our souls. Our cravings are met through the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10. God bless!
Truth, truth, truth! Karen, this is at the core of all our worldly seeking. Only God can fill us. This line: “If we fill ourselves, we are slaves to it. When we self-fill with substitutes, we jeopardize God’s provision—no room for Him.” How many times have I tried to fill myself with something and then become a slave to that very thing, with no room left for God. I have lived this out more than I care to admit. Oh Lord Jesus, help me turn to you with all the need in my heart! Thank you for your beautiful ministry, Karen!
Thank you, Melissa. I pray to realize when I squeeze the Lord’s filling out for the lesser things of life. Because those substitues are only fillers for what we really need deep down inside our souls. To recall reality: recount the times we filled our bucket with life’s stuff and sought instant gratification for deep needs. The gratification vanished and left us searching for more. Because the high never lasted.
I think (and hope) that people are seeing at this time and season they have been filling their life with the wrong things. My daughter said to me, “Mom, I think this social distancing pandemic has become a forced sabbath for the world.” She is correct. In this season, we may be discovering that our lives are full to the brim with what perishes instead of being full to the brim with what’s eternal. Wonderful article, Karen. Timely as well!
“A forced sabbath for the world.” I like that thought, Marcie. “Oh, Lord. Open our eyes and hearts and souls to what matters most in life. Help us to hunger and thirst for what You provide…for You! Let others see Jesus and the abundant life in us. Amen.”
Hi Karen!
This is awesome – you’ve served up a meaty truth meal! It’s so easy to slip into…solve the problem, figure it out, get the to-do list done….oh yeah…God. Why do I feel so overwhelmed?? Duh…I’m guilty of it. Return to the source – get the food and drink I need. Thank you friend ❤️
So true, Liz. I relate to your words because sometimes I run to God as a “last” resort. But He should be the first and top resource I run to for everything I need. He still sends mana from heaven and gushes water from rocks!
A beautiful post filled with real and honest truth. We cannot “fill our buckets” in a way that they never need refilling, because everything does indeed run out the bottom. We’re made with a void that only the Lord God can fill, and to call upon him, need him, come to him, cry out to him, and implore him meets that need for more and evermore of him, for awareness of his presence, for the deepest and truest honesty, for the richest eternal relationship we’ll ever have and ever need. Good reminders! Written beautifully, Karen!
Thank you, Melinda. I so like how you expressed our void and the only way to fill that space is with “the richest eternal relationship we’ll ever have and ever need.” “Richest” is the key word here. How crazy we try to pull resources from the poorest of poor resources and muster up our own source of filling that clearly runs out of our bucket faster and faster than ever.
It’s like you were writing for me today. Self-filling is exactly what I am working on with God right now.
Thankful this encouraged you, Lauren. Praying we learn how to let God fill us and stop self-filling which is fleeting and not satisfying.
It’s always sad when we revert to filling our buckets without the guidance of the Lord. But it’s not until we allow Him to fill our buckets, will we find joy, peace, love, understanding, kindness and eternal life.
So true, Wendy. Poor in spirit, we have intangible needs that never expire. Like grace, love, mercy, joy, peace, and hope. Although they seem abstract, we actually take hold of them when we go to God. Because unlike things that expire, God manifests these characteristics in our lives. And they never run out.
It is interesting that we can feel an emptiness, so often try to fill ourselves with earthly stuff. We even create “bucket lists” that conveys that we collect activities to fill our empty buckets to ensure we have lived a complete life. Yet, as you write Karen, these are all earthly things that will never fully and completely satisfy us. Only God himself, the Source of all life, can do that. Thanks for the post.
Anne, yes, I’ve learned the hard way about what true filling looks like and who truly fills me and satisfies the ache in my soul for fullness. Whether we crave acceptance or appreciation or a secure identity, our cravings are met through the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10.
Such a great message, Karen. God is the only way we can find true fulfillment.
He truly is 100% satisfaction guaranteed and lasts forever! Thank you, Nancy.
“It’s ours by resting in God’s promises, not working to fill ourselves.” It has taken me years to learn and really believe and know this. And I am sure I still have a ways to go. God’s thinking is not our own. And it doesn’t make sense to rest in God and his promises and he will fill us. And yet he does. May I hold onto this truth and engrave it in my heart.
Hi Theresa, I know what you mean by resting in God’s promises so He fills us doesn’t make sense. Seems like much of Kingdom living is upside-down and inside-out to what we naturally think or what the world teaches us.
Yes, it’s so easy to self-fill but it never satisfies for long. Love this: “Life’s stuff only temporarily fills empty spaces, never empty souls. Real fullness is not dictated by anything life offers but revealed in Jesus. He’s eternal and He has no expiration date.”
Lisa, I’m so grateful Jesus is eternal and fills us with the things we really need most. Like love, joy, peace, grace, goodness, kindness, and so much more.
Truly some good reminders – especially during this current time with all the additional stress of life going on, there is a temptation to try to fill our own buckets.
I like how you say – Lay down the lie. understand life’s items expire and substitutes leave us in a worse condition than before.
“Lay down the lie” rolls off the tongue and truly can be so impactful – when I look to fill w/ things that do not satisfy- I am left more empty than before.
Thank you for this truth and encouragement! Only Jesus can satisfy!
Thanks, Christina. I’m trying to become more intentional to lay down those lies and pick up God’s truth more and more often. It’s the only way to find our true source of fulfillment in this world. This is Kingdom filling and living: full souls, God’s abundance, no expiration dates.
There is life-giving truth in your post, Karen. I try to fill too many of my needs by myself so I don’t get to experience the fullness of abundant life from God. I love the verses you shared toward the end – John 4:14, Psalm 16:11. To think there is inside of us, not just living water, but a spring of it! And we already have it available to enjoy.
Yes, we have those living waters springing up inside us, Stephen. We just have to simply access it instead of running around looking for ways to quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger in ways that will never last. They all expire and most of the time quickly.
Karen, my word for 2020 is “full,” so this definitely resonated with me. Only in His presence is fullness of joy … what a wonderful promise for these anxious times.
Hi Lois, what a great word to choose for the year! “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, ESV).
Hallelujah Maranatha and Amen-Amein!!
( Luke 24:1-8 KJV ) “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the Sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the Stone Rolled Away from the Sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the Body of the LORD Jesus-Yeshua. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in Shining Garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? HE is not here, but is RISEN: remember how HE Spake unto you when HE was yet in Galilee, Saying, The SON of man must be Delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be Crucified, and the THIRD DAY RISE AGAIN. And they Remembered HIS WORDS,”!!
( https://kristiann1.com/2016/03/10/jyche/ ) Updated, Two Christian Video’s!!✝️
( John 13:1 KJV ) “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus-Yeshua knew that HIS hour was come that HE should depart out of this world unto the FATHER, having Loved HIS Own which were in the world, HE Loved them unto the End.”!!
( John 14:6 KJV ) “Jesus-Yeshua Saith unto him, I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man ( or anyone ) Cometh unto the FATHER, but by ME.”!!
( Philippians 2:10-11 KJV ) “That at the Name of Jesus-Yeshua Christ-Messiah and Yeshua HaMashiach-Messiah Every Knee should Bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the Earth; And that every Tongue Should Confess that Jesus-Yeshua Christ-Messiah is LORD, to the Glory of GOD the FATHER.”!!
( Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV ) “For by GRACE are ye Saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of GOD: Not of works, lest any man ( or anyone ) should boast.”!! TRUST in the LORD Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua!!
“Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keeps You Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But Only GOD keeps You Going.”!! Amen-Amein Praise Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua Hallelujah!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💕 is ETERNAL THROUGH HIS SON Christ-MESSIAH Jesus-Yeshua for Today and Everyday Forevermore Everyone!!
I Love you all Everyone through Jesus-Yeshua Christ, because HE LOVED EVERYONE FIRST!! 💕 Praise Jesus-Yeshua Christ for Today and Everyday!!
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Thank you, sister. Blessed Resurrection Sunday to you! He is risen!
The woman who led me to Christ persuaded me in exactly this way. She convinced me of the emptiness of the things I was chasing; love the way you put it (expiration dates. ) I remember her sharing a verse from Jeremiah about broken cisterns that won’t hold water… Excellent, timely messages.
I love that passage about broken cisterns, Candice. It’s a great illustration for this very analogy that we will never keep our own buckets full or find fulfillment in the things we chase to numb the ache we feel.
[…] Maybe our life feels empty from a world turned topsy-turvy. Perhaps store shelves display the barrenness of our current situation. We discussed last week, Why “Full” Runs Out at the Bottom of Human Buckets. […]
I love your words – “If we could fill our buckets, we wouldn’t need God. If we were never empty or never felt barren and depleted, we wouldn’t need a Savior. Nothing life offers ever saved us.”
I have a habit of trying to fill my bucket. Sometimes it’s because I am impatient; other times, I just move too fast. This year I am trying to seek God in everything, but I am work in progress.
Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth. I love reading your posts.
Maree
Hey Maree, I relate to filling my own bucket, as most of us do. We search and try to find just the right things to fill us up to capacity and to settle the longing we feel in our souls that just won’t go away with all our own stuff. Thankful God has just the right things we need.
John 4:14 is one of my favorite verses and is a wonderful summary of this post. Thank you for this wonderful reminder full of so much wisdom
Appreciate you commenting, Valerie. We replace false hope of filling with what and who satisfies our soul. “But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life” (John 4:14, AMP).
Such timely encouragement; just the reminder I needed today. 💕
“Christ exchanges our empty for his full.” SO thankful for this truth!
Glad this encouraged you, Jessie. We make such amazing exchanges with the Lord…always trading up.
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