IS RUNNING OUT OUR NEW REALITY?
As I was perusing through my WhatsApp messages, I saw a quote that intrigued me: “If the enemy cannot take you out, he will try to wear you out.” Wow, I can so relate! Weariness and busyness are without a doubt the top two buzz words in this season, and the signs and symptoms of them are very evident. Everywhere you go, there is that constant complaint of feeling stressed out, burned out, and worn out, all across the age spectrum.
At the beginning of this year, that same feeling gripped me in a way I couldn’t fathom. The demands of marriage, motherhood, and ministry, compounded also by the reality that I was undergoing a major renovation on my house, weighed heavily on me, and I felt like my gas gauge was on ‘E.’ One Sunday, when I was slated to present, I went before God to pour out my complaint that I had nothing left to pour out. He led me to reflect on Jesus’ first miracle in John chapter two, ‘Turning Water to Wine.’
In these last days, this first miracle is very applicable in light of the fact that our ‘wine’ running out seems to be our new reality. Is the wine of our spirituality running out? The wine in our marriages, family lives? The wine of our strength and efforts?
Jesus was not at the wedding in Cana by accident. He was there as part of his agenda to teach us some vital lessons about Who to turn to, what to do, and where to look for the kind of wine that exists in abundance which we have access to, that is processed through transformation.
THREE REMINDERS FOR WHEN YOUR WINE RUNS OUT
- Know Who to Turn to: Mary, Jesus’ mother, was the first to identify the problem and invite Jesus into the situation as the Solution and the Source, when they had “no more wine left” (John 2:1). Mary had much confidence in the transformative power of God’s sufficient grace. She knew it worked perfectly in our emptiness, in moments of weakness. So, in times of depletion—whether in marriage, motherhood, or ministry—call on Jesus! We, the ecclesia, the church, have a very important role as watchmen in the nation to identify the need when the wine is running out and point the lost to Jesus.
- Know What to Do: When the situation was about to blow up and cause embarrassment, Mary instructed the servants to “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Many thought Jesus was caught off guard because it wasn’t His time, but Jesus always has a plan. He has a plan that He will reveal to us so we can know how we can participate in the miracle of transformation through obedience. Obedience is the key to unlocking the overflow and transforming our situations from lack to lavishness and from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Know Where to draw Wine that lasts: “Most hosts serve the choice wine first…but you have kept the best wine until now!” (John 2:10). Wine is symbolic of true, lasting joy, which only comes from God. It doesn’t originate from earthly pursuits but from a deep relationship with God. Maybe you’ve tried finding your joy in your status, finances, relationships, career, or assets only to end up disappointed. Like everything else, institutions like our marriages, families, and ministries are subject to the law of entropy, or decreasing energy, and are therefore in need of constant renewal. The wine in your marriage does not come from your spouse; it comes from God, Who is the source of true love and joy. So, position yourself to draw wine from a supply that flows from a consecrated life. Only God can renew your joy when the wine runs out.
INVITATION TO TRANSFORMATION
The responsibilities of marriage, motherhood, and ministry—and, as some people would say, just ‘lifeing,’ can leave us feeling drained, as if our wine has run out. However, the source of true joy and renewal lies beyond these roles. God is inviting us to experience the power of transformation as we navigate life’s journey. He doesn’t just want us to survive; but to thrive. He humbly offers to transform our exhaustion into expectation and our lack into lavishness. He alone can restore and renew, infusing our lives with His joy and purpose.
The truth is, so many of us as leaders are serving from a place of scarcity—not just a lack of resources, but running out of zeal, strength, and hope. The empty church benches have started to reflect the emptiness that has invaded the lives of God’s people as they strive to have it all and do it all. Yet, God is not limited by our human frailties; He invites us to turn to Him in our emptiness, seeking His renewal and strength.
As I invited Christ into my emptiness, He invited me into a period of consecration as I brought my empty vessel for Him to fill to the brim with His transformed wine, and He will do the same for you right now as you invite him in.
Married to a Pastor in Kingston, Jamaica, Esther Sinclair is an accountant by profession. She is also author of a trilogy book – “Cultivating Purpose: Truth101- Let the Animals Teach you to Survive, Let the Animals Teach you to Soar, Let the Animals Teach you to Succeed.”
