How to Make Your Full Plate a Reason for Thanks
We’ve been lying to ourselves, haven’t we?
I know how it goes, because I’ve been there too . . .
We tell ourselves that adding one more thing to our plates will surely cause a meltdown.
But the truth is, a full plate is a blessing, and instead of causing a meltdown, what if that one more thing turned out to be manna for our souls?
What if that one more thing was meant to equip us for a future season?
What if that one more thing is supposed to take the place of something we’ve been holding onto for fear of letting go?
Grateful for a Full Plate of Manna for Our Souls
For years, we’ve been told that full plates are a bad thing, that we’re overdoing it, taking on too much—as if our plates were never meant to be full.
Maybe it’s because we’re filling our plates with things never meant to be there. And isn’t it God who provides manna for our souls in just the right measure?
We’re not called to make space on our plates for every little this and that—and maybe we just need help in knowing what this or that needs to be on them. And we need not stress over it, because God will help us discern what things to pick up and what things to put down. Like a Thanksgiving plate with room for all the things—the delicious things that don’t clash like turkey and pizza—but complement each other—like turkey and stuffing. Not that I would ever complain about turkey and pizza together on my plate, but that slice of pizza? It’s meant for another day—another season.
And let’s be real, not everyone likes turkey, and maybe that’s you. If turkey isn’t meant to be on your plate, it’s not going to feel like manna for your soul.
A manna-for-our-souls kind of full plate needs to be those things God meant for us, because He knows the kind of manna we need and provides it in perfect measure.
Grateful for a Full Plate of What’s Meant for Us
I loved serving as the Women’s Ministry Director of our church. My favorite thing was gathering women and sharing encouragement, and for several years, it graced my plate and filled my soul. But when I felt the call to return to school and finish my degree, I faced a difficult decision. I could make room on my plate for both good things, but could I do both with excellence as unto the Lord? And what if letting go of something on my plate is the one more thing that’s meant to fill someone else’s?
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
After much prayer, I opened my hands, released my grip, and stepped out of my director’s role. As Proverbs 16:9 tells us, we make our plans, but God directs our steps, and sometimes that means stepping out of what was once meant for us and into a new season of what is now meant for us.
When our plates are full of the meant-for-us things, we find our hearts filled with gratitude.
Is there anything on your plate you feel is no longer meant to be there? Don’t be afraid to loosen your grip and receive what God might be calling you to replace it with.
Grateful That What We Let Go Of Never Really Leaves Us
I’m grateful for all the ways God equipped me during my time as Women’s Ministry Director, and although it was meant for just a season, and even when we let something go, it never really leaves us. We carry with us the purposes God meant for it to accomplish, and His purposes carry far beyond what we can hold in our hands.
Be encouraged that a full plate of the right things is a blessing, and adding that one more thing God calls us to pick up can change the trajectory of our lives and make an eternal impact on the lives of those we love and serve. Let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to fill our plates with those meant for us things and help us to view our full plates through a lens of gratitude.
Meet Doris Swift
Doris Swift is an author, speaker, founder of Fierce Calling Ministries, and host of the award-winning Fierce Calling podcast. She is passionate about equipping women to take action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect, and to walk boldly in their fierce calling. Her award-winning Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You, rooted in John 15, helps women identify and surrender what holds them back so they can rediscover their joy and use their gifts to impact the world for Christ. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in Christian counseling, psychology, and business from Liberty University and is on staff at her church, where she serves as a lay counselor and discipleship mentor.
Doris resides in Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and best friend Brian, and their two tuxedo kitties Maggie & Tuffy. She is mom to two of the coolest grown-ups, who blessed her with a daughter-in-love and son-in-love, plus six awesome grandkids. She enjoys visiting historical places, gathering with family, and grabbing coffee with friends. You can connect with Doris and learn more about her podcast, speaking, books, and more at dorisswift.com.
Where to find her . . .
- Website
- Bible Study
- Fierce Calling Podcast
- Free Resources
- Book Doris as a Speaker
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
