“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. ‭Philippians‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Empty. 2020 made a lot of things empty. Empty shelves at the grocery store. Empty calendars. Empty restaurants. Empty houses.  Empty auditoriums. A whole lot of emptiness. One thing 2020 emphasized that had already existed: Empty hearts. The lack of interaction and busyness uncovered the echo of emptiness that so many people hear in their hearts. A sound they cover up with lots of other noise. As 2020 shut down all that noise, the lack of fulfillment, meaning and purpose that they were aware of, but covered over, rose to the surface and started screaming. Has some emptiness been uncovered in you?

The pandemic has caused a great deal of fear and isolation leading to self-protection and self-focus. What has been the result? Anxiety. Depression. Hoarding. Loneliness. People were already lonely before they were forced into quarantine. The increase of loneliness awakens questions, purposeless-ness, emptiness. When life is empty we try to fill it with many things — food, drink, busyness, too much shopping, too much cleaning, too much too much. Maybe during the pandemic shutdown you focused on your family and became more aware than ever that their choices are disappointing you or that you fear failing in your most important relationships. Perhaps you worked on fixing up your home and now that it looks great you don’t enjoy it as much as you though you would.  What have you tried to fill your empty places with? Hopes for your kids? Work? Money? You are probably finding that whatever you have tried to fill your empty places with will only temporarily satisfy. So, what to do?

Self -focus and self-protection lead to an empty, anxious life.  So many have struggled with that anxious emptiness in the past year. We are all beginning to look forward with some hope, but for many, that internal screaming of emptiness will continue and there won’t be a pandemic to blame it on. You may be a believer in Jesus, but is it possible that you are also struggling with a self-focused, self-protecting anxious life? Are you experiencing emptiness? 

As believers, we have a Guide and an example of how to face life. We have Jesus Himself. One of the amazing things about our faith is that we have a God who knows what it is like to be human. Jesus walked the life of a human man. He experienced the same things that you and I do in life, financial need, relational hurt, social  upheaval and uncertain times. He lived through all of that and showed us how to do it in a way that pleases God. So what does Jesus show us about how to live a full, purposeful life rather than a life of anxious emptiness? 

There is an empty place inside each human being that can only be filled with God.  Jesus came to earth with a purpose and it wasn’t self-fulfillment. Jesus didn’t come to fill any empty places in His own life. He came to fill the empty places in your life and mine.  The pandemic restrictions have uncovered that empty place for many people. Have you allowed God to completely fill that place that is unique to Him? Have you been trying to fill that place with something or someone else?

I spent many years trying to be perfect. An innate desire for excellence — my mother has told me that I practiced speaking words in my crib before I used them — became a fear of making any mistake. My life was filled with activity and attempts to prevent mishaps. I found myself apologizing in a advance for potential mistakes and never feeling satisfied with myself or my efforts. I was filled with insecurity and fear. Anxious emptiness. Even as a believer I struggled for peace. 

It has taken time, but as I have grown in my relationship with Jesus, I have become more focused on Him and receiving His help. I have learned that I am loved and accepted by Him in spite of my imperfections. I have learned to focus on what matters to Him and let perfection fall by the wayside. I have found a peace that I couldn’t create on my own. It is a supernatural thing, and I that is what I want for you, my Friend. 

A life of fulfillment and purpose only comes through service. Jesus had everything, but emptied Himself. Jesus sat at the right hand of God’s sparkling throne of perfection, but willingly chose to dirty His feet with the dust of sin-soaked earth. Jesus, Son of God, King of Kings, did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45) Jesus didn’t just tell us how to live. He demonstrated it. He gave us an example to follow that included washing the dirty feet of those who don’t appreciate you. (John 13:15)

He demonstrated for us that whoever seeeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for God will find it. (Luke 9:24-25; Luke 17:33; Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16: 25; John 12:25; Mark 8: 35-37) He showed us that fulfilling God’s will in sacrifice and service to others is the thing that matters most. (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:42; John 6:38). He not only said that loving God and loving people were the most important things (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30-31 ; Luke 10:27), He lived that love every step of His life all the way up the hill to the cross. Jesus lived the way He wants you and me to live. 

What motivated Christ to give up everything, to humble himself? To take on a place of service, to limit himself to human form? He had it all, everything that humans strive for, but laid it aside. Love was His motivation, expressed through service and sacrifice. His example is powerful and superior to any person worth following. I am challenged. How about you?

Dear Friend, I don’t know what emptiness has been uncovered in your life. I don't know the depth of disappointment you are experiencing. But I do know that only God can truly fill that place. The busyness that comes from trying to cover over echoing emptiness will never bring you the satisfaction and fulfillment, the meaning and purpose that you long for. Set your sights on the only example worth following. Set your sights on Jesus and allow Him to show you the way to a meaningful, satisfying life through emptying yourself for the sake of others. 

I have no illusions that it will be easy. It isn’t. But it will be full. It will be worth it. 

Key thought: Jesus showed us how to fill our empty places. 

A Scripture to consider: “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. ‭Philippians‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A YES Challenge: Take some time in God’s presence to consider how you may have been filling the empty places in your life. Ask God to fill those places and ask Him to show you a place of service where you can walk out Jesus’ example.

Prayer: Lord, I hate the sound of echoing emptiness in my own heart. I have tried to cover it with activity, relationships, even hopes and dreams that I can’t make happen. You showed me the way to a life of meaning and purpose. You set the example of a full and abundant life. When I consider Your example and compare it t what many preachers tell me my life should look like, it is a stark contrast. They say I should have everything now, but You gave up everything for my sake and invited me to follow that same path for the sake of others. That’s what I want to do. Fill my empty places, Lord, and lead me on Your path of meaning, purpose, sacrifice and service. Amen.