About six years ago, I found out that I am anemic. Being iron-deficient is not a major setback, for the most part. Having a low red blood count does become a hindrance when donating blood, but other than that there are no major side affects. For the longest time, I thought it was more beneficial to take my iron pills right after eating as to avoid a stomachache.

~NEWS FLASH~ taking iron pills on an empty stomach is way better because there is a higher probability of the iron being absorbed into the blood. For whatever reason, this conclusion just did not come naturally to me.

Fast forward to today, I bought some pre-workout mix for when I go to the gym. The employee recommended taking the drink mix on an empty stomach because there is an increased amount of effectiveness when doing so. I smiled and agreed, confirming that that makes sense. As I left the store, I pondered this whole {empty stomach} concept again. I kept thinking about it and how it related to something on a bigger scale. And then it hit me.

The gospel works the same way that my pre-workout and my iron pills do. Not in an empty stomach sense, but in an overall empty kind of way. In other words, the more spiritually drained we are, the more we are affected by God's love and grace. I am, of course, speaking in a general sense by saying that the mercy and strength of Jesus Christ hits us way harder when we are least prepared for it.

We often think that if we build ourselves up and if we prepare ourselves for God, then we will experience greater results. The truth of the matter is that God meets us where we are. He pursues us as we pursue Him. God finds us when we are empty and drained of strength, courage, and motivation. He meets us in our dark places and in our emptiness, and He fulfills us.

As a math major, I am all about the logic of situations, and the logic that relates to this is wondrous. Logically, the less we have stored in our hearts, the more room there is for God and His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness. The more we empty ourselves of jealousy, anger, and bitterness, the higher probability of absorbing and dwelling in the peace and joy that Jesus provides for us. 1 Peter 5:6-7 reminds us of this:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

All of this to say, there is something beautiful about being empty, humble, and broken when receiving the powerful love of God. Stay humble and absorb much!