“Empty yourself and let God fill you.”
I came across this quote on Pinterest a few days ago and it has honestly become one of my very favorites.
Because oh my goodness, do I ever need to do that.
Whatever my need, I feel like I constantly need to fill it with anything other than Jesus and His satisfying and filling Word.
If I’m lonely, I look for comfort and reassurance from my friends, my family, and how many “likes” my most recent tweet or Instagram post is getting. If I’m sad, I try to treat myself to some online shopping or a sweet treat. If I’m feeling tired while doing what seems to be endless homework, I drink a cup of coffee. If I’m anxious or worried about something, I take a nap and just tell myself everything will be better once I wake up.
Except things aren’t better when I wake up.
Because you see, these things are all temporary fixes. And they will only leave us feeling emptier once they wear off. Comfort and “likes” are reassuring but fleeting. The new clothes I buy will be cute and the sweet treat will be delicious for a moment. Soon, however, that new sweater will be crumpled in my hamper, worn and forgotten about, that small delight’s taste will be gone, no longer delicious on my tongue. The coffee will serve as a much needed caffeine boost but eventually, tiredness will set in, once again. And there will never be enough coffee to cure it. That nap will be peaceful but sooner rather than later, I’ll wake up, remember, and become stressed and anxious all over again, the problem obviously not having gone away in the hour that had passed.
Rather than running to these material and worldly fixes that will only leave us empty and wanting more, we should be filling ourselves with the only thing that will never leave us empty, and that is God and His Word.
When we give our problems to God and put our trust in Him to hear, answer, help, and guide us, that is when we will have relief. His love and affection is the only thing that will ever truly fill us up.
I can’t get through a day without Jesus; I absolutely need His love and guidance every step of every day. When you empty yourself and let God fill you, truly, that is where you will find true peace. Not in worldly people’s comfort and empty promises, not in new clothes or a cupcake, not in espresso or a nice cat nap but in His love, in His promises, in the Bible.
Look Him up, sometime--I promise He’s well worth it.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
