Last week, I followed my nightly routine and fixed myself a cup of chamomile tea. Not sure why I filled it to the brim, but I did. Admittedly, those of us who are blind tend to bump into things. And that’s exactly what happened. With slow steps, I carried the cup from the kitchen to the bedroom, though I was careful, I misjudged the door frame. My elbow caught the edge and, just like that, the tea splashed out. UGH!

Life’s like that.

Bumps are inevitable. You turn the corner and bump into an unwanted disruption. And in those moments, what spills out of you reveals what’s been steeping inside. When fear lives within, fear spills out. When anger takes root, it lashes out. When insecurity is stored up, it drips into every word and decision. And soon, we find ourselves standing in a puddle—not just of spilled tea, but of heartache and heaviness.

Yet, within this messy moment is a message of hope.

There’s a remedy, and its name is change. A transformation not of circumstance, but of the soul. When we intentionally store faith, grace, patience, and unshakable love, then—no matter how hard the hit—those are the things that will overflow. Like sweet honey from a jar, they’ll coat our responses with peace and pour light into dark places.

As it’s written, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him…” (Matthew 12:34–35 NIV).

I invite you to ask yourself: What have you’ve been storing?

Because this one thing—the state of the heart—is the secret to a life of joy, peace, and deep lasting happiness.

Let’s Pray: Father, grant me the courage to examine the depths of my heart. Show me what no longer belongs—what poisons joy and dims the beauty of life. Help me release fear, bitterness, and insecurity. Fill me instead with what is true, noble, and lasting. Teach me to store up kindness, to pour out love, and to overflow with Your grace. May what fill me bring delight to You and healing to the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What fills your heart today?

Bonus article on this topic.

Janet P. Eckles