When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” ¹⁶ Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

¹⁷ “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. ¹⁸ When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

Judges 7:15-17 NIV

God can do a lot with an empty jar.

In 2 Kings 4, a God-fearing widow had nothing left and her son was about to be sold into slavery. She cried out to Elisha to help her and God miraculously provided her with overflowing jars of oil to financially support her and save her son from slavery.

In John 2, Jesus performed His first miracle with jars filled with water that He turned into wine. Jesus proved His power as the Son of God by overriding the chemical makeup of H20 and turning it into fermented drink to save the wedding party from shame. Take a second to think about that complexity.

And finally, in Judges 7, God used His chosen leader Gideon and some empty jars to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites. If you’re unfamiliar with this story, heres a quick recap:

The Israelites were starving and had resorted to living out of caves due to the oppression of their enemies the Midianites. Gideon is a leader God raised up to deliver them. He dealt with fear (like many of us in leadership positions) and constantly had to ask for God’s patient hand to lead Him.

Then God asks Him to do something crazy. He asks Gideon to attack the Midianite camp with only 300 men. Gideon decides that if God is for him, no weapons would be required — and he and his 300 men surround the camp with trumpets, torches and empty jars. On Gideon’s signal, they blow their trumpets and shout and break the empty jars. The result? The Midianites fall into confusion and start attacking themselves from within. Gideon and his men didn’t have to use a single weapon.

Do you feel like an empty jar, mama? A jar that is constantly pouring out your time, effort, resources, and love with very little replenishing? Or let’s be real — maybe you feel like you’re constantly being smashed by the needs of your children? (Yep, me too somedays!)

Let me encourage you — God can do more with an empty jar than you could ever imagine. All it takes is surrender.

If you choose to humbly offer your empty jar and say, “Lord this is all I have, but I trust that you can use it for your glory,” you will be amazed at the ways He will utilize your jar.

Let’s jump back to the story of Gideon for a second. Not only did Gideon have empty jars that he brought into battle (a strange weapon of choice), he had a trumpet and a shout of faith.

Do you have a voice? Is your voice willing to proclaim that the Lord God has given you the victory, even if victory seems nearly impossible? Maybe you have been dealing with the darkness of depression for so long that the light feels uncomfortable. Maybe your so used to feeling panic attacks that having a “normal day” without fear crippling you seems like a dream.

Like Gideon with an empty jar walking into a battle — you are not alone. The Lord Almighty is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9) and He wants you to bring your empty jar of surrender and a trumpet to proclaim His victory in your life. It’s after you walk out that act of faith that you’ll watch Him fight the battle on your behalf.

That darkness doesn’t have to stay hanging over your mind. That fear can be removed and you can live in peace again. Offer Him your empty jar & a trumpet of faith my dear mama, and watch Him conduct a miracle on your behalf.

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Reflection Questions:

How is God prompting you to use your empty jar?

A shout of victory requires FAITH when the battle hasn’t even happened yet. What is an area in your life where you can shout a victory for an answer you’re still waiting on?

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