That empty place…

When I was younger, I felt that there was always something missing in my life. I didn’t know what it was but I searched for it and, for many years I never found that “fulfillment” that I felt was missing. No amount of reading books or meditation or smoking “pot” or drinking could fix that empty place inside. I didn’t try all of the “things” that I could have, thankfully. But I still craved something that wasn’t there.

It’s kinda like a puzzle. When you are trying to finish a puzzle and there is a piece missing it will never be finished and whole until you find the piece that fits. God placed a desire for Himself in our souls and that is the missing piece that we feel. Yet, we walk through life looking in all sorts of places for the “something” that we feel is missing. Each of us feels that something is missing and sometimes this feeling lasts for many years until we finally feel the touch of the Holy Spirit that lets us know exactly Who is missing from our hearts.

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

It is God and Jesus that we are searching for. It is their influence and their Presence in our lives that we long for. Many of us live every day thinking about all sorts of problems and worries that we can do nothing about when we should hand them over to God and thank Him for taking care of them. Then, go about your normal routine like those “problems and worries” are already taken care of. This is good advice but most of us rarely follow it. We pray about our worries and then after we finish the prayer we begin to worry about the problem we just prayed about.

Many Christians, who are born-again, attempt to “help” God even though we think we are giving Him control over our lives. When you are tempted to worry about a problem, ask God to help you give it back to Him. I know this works because I have to do this multiple times a day. My Mom and grandparents were “worriers” so I acquired this habit as well but since I began reading through God’s Word every year, I have gradually come to the point of letting go. It isn’t easy but it can be done.

When you feel a problem is becoming too burdensome, begin reading and praying through Psalms. It helps with depression and pain and almost any other emotional problem that you will face. God’s grace is with you, especially when you have given your heart to Him. Seek His counsel in all things and He will comfort you in all things.