Introduction
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
Many people go through seasons of life where they feel empty, unfulfilled, flat, dull, hollow, or detached. Songwriters have described this feeling with the words, “Nothing really matters.” So, we know the struggle with feeling empty is not uncommon, but it can be very disconcerting and even frightening.
For some people, emptiness is a long-standing feeling. They have always felt disconnected, as if something was missing, or like they have a void inside of them. Others are surprised by this feeling, usually after years of personal achievement and apparent success as with King Solomon, who wrote, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
The world, our flesh, and the devil all continually reassure us that we can find satisfaction and fill the void ourselves; we only need more stuff, new stuff, better stuff. Or we need to work harder and achieve more so that we can go on better vacations and have more exciting experiences. And if that doesn’t work, advertisements and billboards aplenty try to persuade us to try this pill or that pill to relieve our feelings of emptiness. Or if we don’t like pills, we might consider the myriad of networks, stations, videos, and podcasts encouraging us to fill the void with more children, family, friends, ministry, activity, movies, music, food, alcohol, sports, sex, news, politics, fashion, or games. Sadly, while these things are not necessarily bad, if we seek to fill ourselves up with them, we will be left feeling disheartened, still wanting more, numb, and exhausted from the pursuit.
Dear friend, there is another way, a better way to address your feelings of emptiness! If you are feeling empty today, you can look to Jesus and be filled and satisfied in Him!
Perhaps you are thinking, “I believe in Jesus, but I still feel empty.” Friend, there is a difference in merely believing (having head knowledge) and being filled with Christ. James wrote, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19) As Christians, we don’t merely believe in Jesus; He is our life (Colossians 3:4).
If you would be rid of your feelings of emptiness and experience the fullness that is in Christ, you’ve only to look to Jesus and behold His cross where He suffered for your sin, where He emptied Himself to fill you (Ephesians 3:19). Come and lift your heart to Him and receive all the love, life, healing, and wholeness that flows from Him.
Jesus went to the cross and emptied Himself completely so that you might receive the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:14) and everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He poured out His life to fill yours up with His amazing love (1 John 3:1), abundant joy (1 Peter 1:8), and peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7)
Illustration
A woman by the name of Naomi left Bethlehem with her family during a famine; they traveled to the country of Moab. They went on what was supposed to be a temporary “sojourn” (a short stay) and ended up staying ten years, during which time Naomi’s husband and two sons died (Ruth 1:1-5).
Naomi then heard the good news that God had come to the aid of His people in Bethlehem by providing food for them, so Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. But it was a bittersweet homecoming for Naomi; she had lost everything dear to her – her husband and sons. She was empty and hurting (Ruth 1:19-22).
When the people of Bethlehem saw Naomi again, they said, “Could this be Naomi?” She replied, “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty” (Ruth 1:20-21).
God used Naomi’s feelings of emptiness to draw her back home to Israel. And then God took Naomi from empty and bitter to happy and full through a “Kinsman-Redeemer” from Bethlehem by the name of Boaz. Boaz was a close relative of Naomi, who was not only wealthy and full of love, but also willing to redeem and marry Naomi’s Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. In the end, Ruth gives birth to a son and Naomi’s joy is restored in full (Ruth 4:13-17, Luke 3:32).
Dear friend, to turn from the Lord and go out into the world is a deliberate choice for emptiness and dissatisfaction. It leaves us disillusioned, sad, bitter, and empty.
If you are hurting with feelings of emptiness today, you also have a Redeemer from Bethlehem named Jesus. He is a man of great wealth, who deliberately became poor for you on the cross that you would become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus gave up all of Himself for you at the cross to fill you by His Spirit because He loves to take empty people and make them full.
Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV) “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ, you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”
Application
Are you feeling like Naomi today? Have your life’s losses been so significant that you think there is nothing left for you here? Do you feel empty and bitter about your situation? Look to Jesus! Receive His invitation to come home to Your Redeemer and be filled with the good and eternal things that He provides (Luke 1:53). Lift your empty heart to Him and wait; at the proper time, He will fill you to overflowing (Psalm 23:5).
Are you lacking purpose and asking yourself, “What’s the point?” Do you feel that your endeavors are meaningless? Does everything disappoint and leave you wanting? Turn from your empty cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13) and look to Jesus your fountain of life (Psalm 36:8-9).
Take time to be still and fix your eyes, your heart, and your thoughts on Jesus right now. See Him taking your emptiness upon Himself, see Him bearing the weight of your pain. See Him all alone, emptying Himself for you, dying your death. See him thirsting and enduring the agony of eternal craving so that you might experience fullness and liberty in Him. He abandoned all for you – His royalty, His rights, His freedom, His life, and His Spirit – so that you would be filled with His Spirit, His love, His wisdom, and His life (Colossians 1:9, Ephesians 1:23, Ephesians 3:19).
Oh, friend, Jesus is your Good Shepherd! He has laid down His life so that you will not be empty and wanting (Psalm 23:1) but rather seated at His table, feasting with your cup overflowing (Psalm 23:5). When feelings of emptiness intrude, look to Jesus and remember His body broken for you and His blood poured out for you, for as you do, you will experience His Holy Spirit pouring love into your heart (Romans 5:5) and filling you so that you can sing with the psalmist:
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips, my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:3-8
Question: How does it fill your heart when you look at Jesus emptying Himself on the cross for you?
Gary writes, “Knowing how much He has done for me on the cross, and how much He cares, and how much He gives to me, replaces emptiness with fulfillment.“
Sophia writes, “It is a terrible thing to feel empty and meaningless, without direction in this world. But oftentimes, I can echo exactly what Solomon Says in Ecclesiastes. Emptiness of Emptiness!! Everything under the sun is meaningless and empty. Thank you God for bringing meaning into this world. You came to the earth and brought with you such grace and mercy. You came and emptied your own self by taking the form of a servant and being obedient even to the death of the cross so that I could be filled with all the fullness of God! (literally filled with the holy spirit- God himself!).“
Jen writes, “He emptied Himself so I could be full! Such love and devotion; greater than anyone or anything could give me!“
Mike L. writes, “It is overwhelming to know that I am loved so much, honestly I can only imagine what heaven is like with my finite mind, but Jesus left His home to come to this wretched place (comparatively) to be betrayed, beaten, crucified, because of my sin. This is crazy love, what He went through so that I could someday be with Him forever, gives me such hope, joy and a longing for heaven! Lord Jesus thank you for emptying Yourself so that I could be full. Come Lord Jesus Come!!“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.