“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5b
I remember standing in our field with my husband at sundown one day, thankfulness and grace and mercy and wonder flooding my heart-and I whispered, “surely my cup overflows!”
Surely, God’s hand is in this, is on our lives-He has brought us to this place of blessing.
And that’s how I used to always think of that verse-the cup overflowing with goodness and blessing.
But what about when the cup overflows with sorrow?
With pain?
With tragedy, trials and temptations?
Jesus knew about that cup. That’s the cup He begged the Father to take from Him.
The cup that was bitter and hard to swallow.
He prayed three times, He sweat blood and He battled His flesh so that His spirit could conform to the Father’s will.
And in the end, He submitted Himself to the Father’s plan.
He was obedient, even to death, even to death that He did not deserve, did not HAVE to suffer, did not WANT to suffer.
I have buried a son.
And it is the most painful thing I have ever had to bear.
It’s a burden I never anticipated and it’s a burden of which I will not be free until I join him in Heaven.
There are some parents who have suffered the loss of multiple children. Or who have suffered child loss and other difficult life circumstances.
If my cup is full and overflowing, theirs is overflowing still more.
Where to take that full cup?
Where to find the strength to carry it, to drink it to the dregs?
When my heart screams, “No more!” and my body cries, “I can’t do this!”, I look to my Savior for the model of how to carry on.
Only in Christ, Who Himself bore the cup and Who drank its bitter fullness can I hope for strength and redemption.
The One Who knows my pain can carry my pain.
The One Who lives again will breathe life into my heart.
The One Who redeems what the enemy has stolen will turn my mourning to dancing.
This cup will not always overflow with sorrow. Around the banquet table at the wedding supper of the Lamb, it will once again be full of joy.
You make me know the path of life; in your presence is unbounded joy, in your right hand eternal delight.
Psalm 16:11 CJB
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thelifeididntchoose 
9 months ago my son died in a tragic automobile accident. He was 19 years old. My cup indeed is filled with sorrow and also anger and doubt. I’ve known God since I was 9 years old, but now I having a hard time believing, communicating, forgiving, surrendering. He doesn’t seem like the God I knew. I can’t give it all to Him just yet. I am still having a hard time trusting Him. I trusted Him with Max and look what happened.
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Powerful. You have a gift albeit born of tradgedy and sorrow. Thanks as always putting words to your feelings and faith that help us all navigate these rough waters.
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It never fails … Where my heart hurts, the comfort I need for that part of missing Brandon, your words give me just what I need. Graduations, Mother’s Day, 2 1/2 year son rising to Jesus anniversary, Brandon’s birthday, Memorial Day, and finally Father’s Day just knock me flat. Tears, doubts, questions, why us, overwhelming lack of energy, but your posts, God’s words through your posts, provide balm. Thank you for sharing your heart and comforting mine.
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Melanie, God has helped me through you (so much) in my constant grief, after the loss of my precious youngest son on 7/20/16, Drew Grubb, he is 23 years as of 7/27/17 in heaven. I just want to Thank you again, cannot thank you enough for your “well put together words” that comfort my heart and soul. I follow you too, on my husband’s Facebook, Bill Parsley. I just cannot get enough of your writings. I always get a hug from our Lord through your thoughts on paper. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You Melanie!!!
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Cindy,
Thank you so much for the encouragement! It helps my heart to know that the words are comforting to another broken-hearted mama. I pray that the Lord continues to give you strength for each new day. It’s a hard journey, but we know that one day every single tear will be redeemed. ❤
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I see the cup over flowing right onto the pages of this blog. That burden is being carried by all of us, to include Jesus. Thank you.
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Thank you Melanie, this is something I really needed to read.
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