October 6, 2025

Monday, October 6, 2025  

When Life Nibbles, God Nourishes  

There is a time for everything,   
and a season for every activity under the heavens.  
Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV  

Caterpillars love my passion plant, a host plant for these butterflies-to-be. They nibble away until the leaves disappear, leaving only bare stems and a weary-looking pot. That’s exactly how I felt after a month of nonstop commitments—stripped down, empty, and in need of rest.  

But here’s the unexpected miracle. Those same lifeless stems, chewed down to nub, started sprouting fresh green shoot—vibrant, strong, and full of life. And it hit me: that’s the way of life, too. There is a time for fullness and a time for emptiness. Both are part of God’s rhythm. Both are His time and in which He brings His presence, His peace.  

Life will nibble. Responsibilities, worries, and weariness can leave us feeling emptied out. But God never leaves us there. He nourishes us in the quiet, restores us in the emptiness, and brings growth again, growth that we couldn’t produce on our own. Fullness and emptiness aren’t signs of winning or losing; they’re both parts of God’s faithful rhythm.  

So now, when life feels like it’s chewing at the edges, I try to remember: God’s nourishment is on the way. And when the leaves return—whether in joy, peace, or new opportunities—I can trust His hand was at work. Because in both the emptiness and the fullness, God is loving and shaping me.   

Reflect: When life “nibbles” at you, how can you open yourself to God’s nourishing presence in the emptiness?  

Prayer: Father, thank You that You meet me when I feel drained and when I feel full. Remind me that both seasons belong to You. Nourish me with Your presence and bring new growth in Your perfect time. Amen.  
By His Grace  
Gloria Ashby  
Lay Leader