When You Feel Empty

Do you feel empty today? Overwhelmed by the pressures of life? Worn out from never-ending, dismal circumstances? The uncertainty of your health? Feeling like you're as low as you could possibly be?

You're not alone. Charles Spurgeon is one of the many believers who felt the as you do. Yet he had something insightful to say:

Charles Spurgeon battled depression pretty much his whole life. Yet he is considered one of the greatest preachers of the 19th century. Why? Not because he had his life together, but because in his weakness and frailty, God used him. Spurgeon learned through his depression to lean more heavily on God, to fight the fear and despair with faith, and to persevere through the hard of life in a broken, sin-cursed world.

This encourages me when the lies attack...

• "My weaknesses and struggles make me ineffective and unqualified to minister to or encourage others."
• "It’s wrong for me to write or tell others something when I struggle to believe the same truths myself."

But as I was reminded by a friend recently, those struggles are exactly the reason it matters. I don’t have my life together. I’m a sinner just like you who needs grace to make it through today. My story or avenue of writing isn’t about my successes or my victories, but my daily need for Jesus.

It’s tempting for young people to be self-sufficient because we have energy and drive. I know I was (and let's be honest, I still am sometimes!). Chronic illness humbled me and made me more dependent on God and others. While that was extremely difficult and pride-shattering, it has been one of the best things that has happened to me.

Without emptiness, without my struggles, without my chronic illness, and most importantly, without God’s grace to hold and keep me, I would not be where I am today. I would be a proud, self-sufficient person lacking grace for others who are hurting. I would not grasp the depth of my sin. I would not have compassion for those struggling. Remarkably, God uses those very things we despise to deeply work in our hearts and to display His power:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” 2 Cor. 4:7-10

You may feel that you can't get any lower. Consider this: God is using your emptiness to prepare you for being filled and to transform you into something beautiful. The Enemy desires our struggles and suffering to render us ineffective in the Kingdom. But God wants to redeem those losses, battles against remaining sin, and weaknesses to shine forth His incomparable power and unsurpassable worth.

Let God show Himself strong through your emptiness and weakness.