Feeling Like You’ve Got Nothing to Give - October 1st, 2025

Ever feel like you’ve got nothing—but you give anyway?

As a leader, I expect myself to bring direction and encouragement. But that morning, I couldn’t even get up without a struggle. I was supposed to lead our team in prayer before outreach. The only thing I could think to offer was reading Psalm 23—because Zz had been memorizing it for school. I hadn’t slept well, and Sirichai had needed a lot of attention through the night. I was tired, and I’d been struggling with anxious thoughts I was unable to "reel-in" before the meeting. We prayed, worshipped, and asked the Lord for words or pictures to show us where we should go to minister. I got nothing. A big fat nothing. I felt nothing except anxiety. I could have encouraged myself, “In our weakness He is made strong,” but I didn’t even think that!

We often get stuck in our fears and limitations. If we stay in that place, it’s easy to feel completely useless. That’s exactly how I felt: If I go on outreach today, I’ll be useless. I didn’t want the team to think I was a quitter—so I went anyway.

It’s amazing how God blesses us in our weakness—sometimes the best way out of our own anxieties is to show up for someone else.

I relied on those in my group, Nay Lin Oo and Min Min Soe (Mimi), who had felt God speaking to them about visiting a couple of people they’d met on outreach before.

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The Woman Who Wore Joy

She had seven kids—three of whom were married, two were still school-aged, and I’m not sure about the others. Their family had migrated from Burma to Thailand, hoping for a better life away from the ongoing civil war.

She told us they were earning just 180 baht a day—about $5.50 USD. And no, 180 baht is not a living wage. It’s not even Thailand’s minimum wage. It’s barely enough to cover basic survival needs. To get by, more than one person in the family would need to work—likely both parents, and maybe even one or two of the older children.

One of her school-aged kids was in school. It cost her 1,000 baht to send him—$30 USD. The other was outside the house bouncing a soccer ball up and down, unable to attend because they couldn’t afford to send them both.

We’d come to give some rice, oil, and eggs—but mostly to encourage them and share love with them.

I was surprised at the smile and joy this woman wore on her face. She had a radiant smile on a thin frame. Joyful strength genuinely emanated from her. I was no longer ruminating on my own anxious thoughts, but instead felt compassion for this woman’s situation and began to see her for who she was, not for what she lacked monetarily. I saw what she had to give.

She had endured many hardships in her 44 years and certainly gained a lot of practical wisdom through it. I began to prophesy over her that she would be used to influence the next generation of mothers in her neighborhood, offering joyful hope on how to be a mother and imparting the strength she has to others.

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The Woman Named Ruby

The second lady I had a conversation with had just gotten remarried this year and moved with her husband to Thailand, hoping to find good work to save money and support their children, who they left with grandparents in Burma.

I can't recall the exact translation of her name, but I think it was Ruby. So I will call her Ruby.

Ruby’s face was very beautiful but held deep stress. I could tell she was an educated woman—she had worked at an office in Burma. She shared with us that she is not used to the type of field labor work she’s been doing here in Thailand, she doesn’t like it here at all, she misses her children (especially her 11-year-old). Her soft smile did not hold joy, and her eyes held disappointment.

As we chatted, I felt like I should share my story of moving from America to Thailand when I first got married—not to compare our circumstances but to share hope. In the midst of moving homes, cultures, and leaving the things I once knew—and being frustrated with many aspects of my new life—I found strength in Jesus.

I asked Ruby if I could pray over her. She was happy to accept prayer. I prayed for two very specific things:

1. That she would receive strength from Jesus.
2. That she would have a new pair of lenses with which to look upon her circumstances.

It was a powerful time of ministry, and we could feel God’s presence with us.

Would you stand with me in prayer for these two women?

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Seeing Beyond Black and White

I felt I had nothing. God showed up in my weakness. I gave love and hope out of obedience to love my neighbor.

Sometimes we see in such black and white. We often see rich or poor. When we arrived at the first house, I whispered to Min Min Soe, “Oh, they really are poor.”

People are much more than that. You can be poor and joyful and full of tenacity and strength.

We do not choose where we will be born—into wealth or poverty, war or peace.

How often do we get caught up in ourselves and our own circumstances and miss the opportunity to love the person in front of us?

If you’re in a rut today, stop and do something for someone else.

• Encourage someone.
• Love someone.
• Share something of yourself with others.

It could change your whole day—and theirs too!

I know it did mine.

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With love,
​Bringing hope to the borderline,​
​Kelly

Do you struggle with anxious thoughts?

Resource Recommendation:

There was a time in my life when I dealt with intense anxiety and even anxiety attacks. (During our days running a hair salon in Australia) One of the most powerful tools that helped me was the work of Dr. Caroline Leaf—specifically, her 21-Day Brain Detox. This program helped me begin to "rewire my brain" and experience real change.

It’s now available as the Neurocycle App, which you can find here.

Don’t stay stuck in anxiety. There is hope! You can begin to renew your mind and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in the process of healing and transformation.

After going through the 21 days (and even before I finished), people around me—Judah, co-workers, friends, and clients—started noticing a real difference. I went from battling debilitating anxiety attacks to walking in freedom. You can too!

Now when I struggle with anxious thoughts I have tools to get through it faster and know how to stay grounded in truth!

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