In a world that celebrates “more,” it is difficult to talk about “less.” In his recent message, Matt walked us through two of the most challenging images of lack in Scripture: poverty and barrenness. While we often view these as problems to be solved by human effort, Jesus offers a different perspective. When Mary anointed Jesus with expensive oil, the disciples saw “waste” that could have gone to the poor. But Jesus reminded them that the poor would always be there. He wasn’t dismissing the needy; he was pointing to a deeper reality: our physical lack is often a mirror reflecting our profound spiritual poverty.

The image of the “empty womb” is perhaps one of the most painful symbols of this broken world. For many, this isn’t just a biblical metaphor—it is a lived reality of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infertility. It is a grief that is heavy, quiet, and often lonely. Yet, Matt suggests that the story of Sarah in the Old Testament is placed before us for a reason. Sarah’s barrenness wasn’t just a private struggle; it was a burden that seemed to threaten the very promises of God. Her story forces us to ask: Can we still admit God is good when our lives feel empty?

The burden Sarah carried was compounded by the mandates of Genesis—the call to “be fruitful and multiply” and the hope of a “seed” that would crush the serpent’s head. For Sarah, her identity and her value were tied to her ability to produce. When she remained empty for decades, she struggled with shame, a loss of purpose, and eventually, a lack of trust in God. We see this when she tries to “fix” the problem herself through Hagar. Like Sarah, we often try to pave our own way when God’s timing doesn’t align with our desires, leading us further into a cycle of shame and self-justification.

The turning point in Sarah’s story—the birth of Isaac—is a miracle, but it isn’t the ultimate point. The goal of our lives is not simply to have our desires granted, but to have God Himself. Isaac was a gift, but he was not the Savior. Matt reminded us that God is more interested in giving us Himself than in merely filling our hands with what we think we need. If we find our ultimate value in the “blessing” rather than the “Blesser,” we miss the heart of our calling.

Ultimately, our emptiness is only filled by the One who emptied Himself. As Philippians 2 describes, Jesus left the glory of heaven, took on human flesh, and became an “empty vessel” on the cross to drink the cup of wrath we deserved. He entered into our shame and our brokenness so that we wouldn’t have to carry it alone. Whether you are facing the literal pain of an empty womb or the metaphorical emptiness of a life without purpose, the invitation remains the same: Turn your eyes to Jesus. He is the only one who can fill the void and turn our mourning into laughter.

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Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Reflecting on the Mirror: Matt mentioned that physical poverty and barrenness are often “images” that reveal our internal spiritual emptiness. When you experience a “lack” in your life (financial, relational, or physical), does it typically draw you closer to God or cause you to question His goodness?
2. The Burden of Performance: Sarah felt the weight of having to “produce” to fulfill God’s promise. In what areas of your life do you feel like your value is based on what you can produce or achieve rather than who you are in Christ?
3. The “Hagar” Temptation: When God’s timing felt too slow, Sarah took matters into her own hands. Can you share a time when you tried to “help God out” by forcing a situation to happen? What was the result?
4. Shame and Identity: The message highlighted how Sarah struggled with shame for 25 years. How does the Gospel provide a solution for the shame we feel when our lives don’t look the way we—or society—expected them to look?
5. The Ultimate Filling: Philippians 2 says Jesus emptied Himself to fill us. How does knowing that Jesus “suffers alongside us” change the way you view your current struggles or “empty places”?