Leftovers

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and enjoy a table full of delicious food. For many, the leftovers might be the very best part. There’s a special kind of joy in pulling those mystery containers from the fridge. Discovering turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and of course, a slice of pumpkin pie, the dishes are relished all over again. We reheat what’s left, repurpose some into new creations, and stretch the remnants for as long as possible.

Life can sometimes feel similar, but not in the comforting, post-holiday sense. What once resembled a full buffet of blessings now feels picked over and nearly empty. The abundance we once enjoyed has faded into little or no energy, scattered moments of joy, and just enough emotional strength to get by. In this dark season, it can seem we’re surviving on life’s leftovers instead of savoring its best portions. Drained and operating on autopilot, we quietly wonder, “Is this really all there is?”

Yet, it’s precisely into this kind of moment that Scripture speaks a profound and restorative promise. Psalm 103:5 tells us that God is the One “who satisfies your life with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” These words reach straight into the heart that feels empty, reminding us that God never serves leftovers. He is the God of renewal and restoration, who fills, satisfies, and breathes life back into what has grown weary.

The important word to notice is satisfies. This is not about receiving just enough to get by. It speaks of a complete filling, touching the places where despair has rooted. When God satisfies, it is complete. He does not merely patch us together or give us a temporary boost.

His provision never ends and in Psalm 103:5 the imagery of the eagle adds another significant layer of meaning. Eagles are majestic creatures known for their ability to soar effortlessly above storms. But many people do not realize eagles go through periods of molting, a process where they shed old, damaged feathers so that new, stronger ones can grow in their place. During molting, the bird can appear weak or scruffy, far from majestic. Yet, when the regeneration is complete, they rise again with power and beauty.

This is a picture of what God does in us. Sometimes life feels like a molting season where we are stripped down, fragile, or hardly capable. But these seasons are not signs of God’s absence, they signal opportunities for His renewal. Psalm 103 reminds us that God does not let our worn-out places remain empty. He replaces, restores, and replenishes.

Living as though life is a leftover can also distort our expectations. When we stop expecting God to fill us with good things, we may begin settling for less - less joy, less peace, less purpose. We may tolerate relationships that drain us, patterns that harm us, or fears that paralyze us. But the promise of Psalm 103:5 invites us to raise our expectations again, because our God is generous, attentive, and invested in our renewal.

The Scripture also encourages us to actively receive what He gives. Rejuvenation does not come from controlling or trying to perfect our own circumstances. It comes from turning our open, empty hands toward God and trusting Him to supply what we cannot create for ourselves. If your life feels like a leftover right now, take heart in God’s promise for you in Psalm 103:5: “He satisfies your life with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

This is a God who satisfies, not just barely sustains. This is a God who takes the old and replaces it with the new. This is a God who meets your ‘not enough’ with ‘more than enough.’ And He is a God who welcomes you to come to Him and be filled completely. In God’s hands, your leftover places will become launching places, like an eagle, catching the wind of God’s renewing grace.