What is your cup full of?

I'm going to try something new and write devotions, as they come to me and as the Lord leads. Welcome to my first one, as featured on my dear friend's 

website:   http://www.holygroundsonline.com/devotions

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What is your cup full of? 

Life was alright: my job was going well, my marriage was great, and I had just started a well-known ministry program at my church. Then, out of the blue, my faith was rocked. I got a call on my lunch break that my hard working and faithful Dad’s business was robbed… while he was there. He blocked them into a small area while police arrived, and they were arrested. No one was hurt, but they did get away with some of his belongings before the arrest.

I was devastated. You see, my mom passed away when I was 15 and he’s all I’ve got. He’s always been healthy and in my eyes, he’s invincible. He got saved a few years ago and watching his drastic transformation and growth has been one of the biggest honors of my life. The thought of something happening to him crushed my soul to the core. How could God let this happen to him? The thieves could’ve had a gun, could’ve ganged up and overpowered him. Two of them bailed out of jail right afterwards; what if they came back? I couldn’t stop thinking about how differently it could’ve ended.

I freaked. I was so angry at the robbers, at God. I couldn’t stop crying for days. My entire body was reacting with stress hives, nervous system issues, and a full-blown panic attack. I cussed. I screamed. I couldn’t focus at work. I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t trust that God was involved or that it would work out for good.

Now, let me tell you how my dad reacted. He never once got upset or feared his life. He believed that God protected him and that this was a wake-up call to stop holding on to his belongings and business. He didn’t fear that they had a gun because he knows where he will go. He said, and I quote, “These material things aren’t mine; they’re God’s. I’ve been a steward of them, and now it’s time to give it all back to Him.” Yall… cue more tears. He shared his story like a champ and claimed God’s goodness to all who asked.

Shortly after, someone shared this anonymous story on social media. There are so many cup analogies (Glass half-full… Glass half-empty… My cup overflows…), but this one spoke to me in a new and powerful way:

"You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"Well because someone bumped into me, of course!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.
Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.

Whatever is inside the cup, is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility?
Or anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?
You choose!
Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation; and kindness, gentleness and love for others."

It’s clear what filled each of our cups at the time. I was running around like a maniac trying to control the situation, spilling out doubt and idols, not trusting in God. My dad was trusting in His sovereignty and peace, spilling out faith and forgiveness.
Your cup will eventually spill. When it does, what will your cup be full of? Joy or anger? Peace or panic?

Psalm 16:5     LORD, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future.