July: Have Tea with God

…God’s Love Is the Perfect Cup of Tea of Hope.

The first glimpse of early morning light joyfully awakens my soul. Each sunrise brings new hope, a fresh beginning, and endless possibilities wrapped in God’s promises.

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.”
— Psalm 119:114 (NKJV)

The two times of day I cherish most are the quiet moments just before sunrise and the peaceful stillness at dusk. These are the sacred hours when I most love to fellowship with God while holding my favorite cup of tea in my hands.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.”
— James 1:17

There is a special peace during these hours when the noise of the world grows quiet and only the music of nature remains. In the early morning, the birds begin their joyful chorus, inviting one another to welcome the day as the sun rises and warms the earth. In the evening, after a long day spent tending the garden, I love to watch the birds make their final rush through the flowers and trees, singing softly as they gather what they need before night gently settles over the land.

I have always loved the way God paints the sky during these moments. Morning light washes the heavens in soft golden hues, while dusk often arrives brushed with delicate shades of pink, violet, red, and pale blue.

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1

These moments have become my tea time with God — little gifts hidden within the day, waiting to be opened at just the right time. Whether after a busy afternoon or before the world awakens, I look forward to preparing that perfect cup of tea accompanied by warm toast or afternoon biscuits. There is such comfort in wrapping my hands around a warm cup, as though God Himself is gently reminding me that everything is going to be okay.

Like many tea lovers know, timing is everything. The water must be just the right temperature, and the tea must steep for exactly the right amount of time — not too weak, not too strong, not too bitter, and not too watered down. Over the years, I have often realized how much this simple ritual reflects God’s perfect timing in our lives. His timing is never rushed and never late. He is with us from the first light of morning until the quiet stillness of night, continually filling our cups with mercy, grace, and hope for a brand-new day.

One evening after an especially full day, I was eagerly looking forward to my quiet tea time. As I cleared my desk and checked off the day’s tasks, my friend Liz called. During our conversation, we shared our love for tea and our favorite times of day to enjoy it.

I told Liz about my dear friend Bev and how we often enjoyed afternoon tea together, even while living miles apart. Somehow, during those quiet moments, we always knew we were praying for one another or sending encouraging words from the heart.

Liz shared that she loved enjoying tea late in the evening, after the world had fallen asleep. She reminded me that one of the secrets to a perfect cup of tea is the proper water temperature. I laughed and agreed — if the water is too hot, too cold, or merely lukewarm, the tea simply loses its fullness and flavor.

As we talked, I began reflecting on how tea time with God teaches us lessons about the condition of our hearts. So often, the hurried pace of life causes impatience, worry, and distraction. In our rushing, we stop trusting God fully in both the large and the small things.

Recently, it had been deeply on my heart that God Himself is the perfect cup of tea. I softly giggled as I admitted to Liz that life lately had felt rushed, and in my haste I had made my tea too bitter, too strong, or too watered down. I realized that the constant pressure to move faster and faster had quietly distracted me from resting in God’s presence.

As I spoke, I heard the gentle whisper of Scripture within my heart:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10

I began to think about how the only truly perfect thing in this world is Jesus Christ — God’s precious gift to us. Perhaps, instead of constantly striving for perfection in everything, I simply need to sit still, breathe deeply, and allow God’s love to fill my soul.

God’s tea of love is never too bitter or too strong. God’s tea of blessings is never weak or watered down. Perhaps it is our own time with Him that has grown weak because we have drifted too far from His Word.

You see, my friend, God simply wants us to invite Him to join us when we make our tea.

For God’s endless love is the perfect cup of tea of hope.

The Ingredients for God’s Perfect Cup of Tea

A Cup of Living Water

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give them will become in them
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
— John 4:14

A Spoonful of Hope

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11

A Spoonful of Love

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
— 1 John 4:16

A Spoonful of God’s Word

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
— Psalm 119:103

Once the water is prepared at just the right temperature, wait patiently in quiet moments with God as the tea steeps. Then fill your cup with His compassion, mercy, and loving kindness.

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion,
and gracious, long suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”
— Psalm 86:15 (NKJV)

Let us slow down and find refuge in God as we enjoy His perfect tea of hope and discover His joy each day.

Taking my own advice, I finished putting away my things, prepared a cup of my favorite tea with a hint of honey, and settled into my favorite chair in the studio. As the tea steeped, I opened my Bible and turned to a blank page in my journal, sketching a quiet thought resting on my heart.

I softly invited God to join me for tea.

Holding the warm cup tightly in my hands, I slowly took my first sip. Instantly, I felt wrapped in the comfort of God’s loving kindness — the kind of peace that fills the soul with hope, faith, and joy.

I began reading one of my favorite passages from Romans 5:

“Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and He now declares us flawless in His eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!

But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”
— Romans 5:1–5

And there, in the quiet stillness with tea in hand and God’s Word before me, I was reminded once again: God’s love truly is the perfect cup of tea of hope.