Ain’t That A VHIT
By Von C. Howard
At the 2025 Watch Night Service at New Mount Olive Baptist Church, guest pastor Rev. Jeffrey Johnson shared an illustration in his message that was both simple and profound, the power of the cup and the saucer. It was a timely reminder that God’s blessings are intentional, purposeful, and never meant to end with us.
The cup represents our personal season. Each of us is carrying something different. For some, it is a season of growth and gratitude. For others, it is a season of waiting, healing, rebuilding, or simply surviving. Many people today are not praying for overflow; they are praying the cup does not break. They are asking God for strength to endure, clarity to move forward, and peace to make it through another day.
Yet Scripture still declares, “My cup runneth over.” Overflow does not always look like abundance in the way the world defines it. Sometimes overflow is peace in the middle of pressure. Sometimes it is endurance when giving up feels easier. Sometimes it is wisdom earned through experience. God fills our cups according to what each season requires.
The saucer brings deeper meaning. The saucer exists because cups overflow. It catches what spills so nothing is wasted. In real life, the saucer represents other people and other seasons, often across generations. What God poured into our elders’ cups can spill over for the current generations. Their prayers, sacrifices, faith, and perseverance laid foundations many of us now stand on, even if we never saw the pouring take place.
Likewise, what God pours into you during your season can overflow into someone else’s season. Your stability may bless someone else’s struggle. Your healing may encourage someone else’s hurt. Your testimony may carry someone who feels like they cannot go any further. Overflow is how God connects lives, seasons, and generations.
Trust is at the center of this lesson. The late gospel music icon Richard Smallwood captured this truth in his song “Trust Me.” The lyrics remind us of God’s steady presence and power: “I will be with you… I’ll never leave you… I’ll fight your battle… I have all power… I will deliver, if you will only trust Me.” Those words speak directly to today’s realities, calling believers to trust God even when outcomes are unclear.
When God allows our cup to run over, it is not accidental. Overflow is assignment. The patience you learned while waiting becomes encouragement for someone else. The faith built in one generation becomes confidence in the next. What spills from your cup was always meant to land somewhere meaningful.
The power of the cup and the saucer teaches us that blessings are seasonal, intentional, and generational. God blesses one life so another can be sustained. Overflow is not loss; it is legacy in motion.
As we move forward, may we trust God enough to loosen our grip on the cup. May we recognize that when it runs over, a saucer has already been positioned. And may our lives testify that what God poured into us did not stop with us, but flowed to bless others, right on time.