Christians Who Feel Empty Inside
By Synthia Robinson-Pack
Are you empty inside? Do you struggle to grab onto something but do not know what you need? Is there something undefined that is missing in your life?
Many people believe that Christians have everything that they need, therefore, they do not experience these feelings. This is not true though. Christians struggle with the same feelings, emotions and conflicts that non-Christians do. Jesus' atonement saved us from our sins but it did not save our from our struggles. In fact, many times we experience more difficulties, it seems, once we accept salvation. The Scriptures warn us that Christians will experience difficulties. In fact Psalms 34:19 says, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
The difference between Christians and non-Christians is that as Christians we have the Truth to help guide us. We also have that same Truth to lead us to fulfillment in our lives. It reveals the true source of the emptiness within us. Many times, however, we turn to the world's way of dealing with that emptiness. Non-Christians try to fill it with exciting careers, large homes, expensive cars and jewelry. Some also try to use volunteer work or charitable giving. The fact is only one thing can replace that emptiness within anyone. The internal chasm is a result of our lack of relationship with God our Creator.
Each of us was created to have an intimate relationship with God. Colossians 1:16-17 and Revelations 4:11 tell us that God created everything, including every man, woman and child born, for His pleasure. He created the earth, animals, plants . . . everything in existence . . . but found that there was nothing with which He could share Himself. Then God created Man for communion and companionship with Him. Genesis tells the story of the Creation.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . so God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.(1)
God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and then he created Eve from one of Adam's ribs. In the cool of the day, God would come to the garden to walk and talk with them. We can only imagine how incredible it must have been for Adam and Eve to experience the very Person of God, walking and talking intimately with them. They were fulfilling their very purpose though. It was not amazing; it was a normal part of life for them.
And they [Adam and Eve] heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.(2)
Notice that Adam and Eve hid themselves because they were naked, not because they were in God's Presence. They were not concerned that God was there but, rather, that they were not clothed. Adam and Eve's disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit resulted in mankind's separation from God. Because of their actions, sin came into mankind and created a chasm between man and God.
As Christians, we know that Jesus Christ came to the earth as man, led a sinless life, died for our sins and was resurrected on the third day. He now sits in Heaven and acts as our mediator. We often forget that until Jesus' death, man had limited access to God. Once a year, the High Priest (and only the High Priest) could enter into the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle. The Spirit of God dwelt within the Holy of Holies. The High Priest could only enter the room on the one day and only after he had prepared himself according to the strict Levitical law. If he did not precisely prepare himself, he would die when he entered into the room.. The Holy of Holies did not have a door but had a thick veil covering the opening. This was to protect the people from coming into the Presence of God and thereby dying. When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn into two pieces, signifying that entry into God's Presence was now available for anyone anytime. Man could now re-establish the intimacy with God and thereby fulfil his purpose.
Jesus Christ did not only die so that we could be saved from our sins; He also died so that we could have intimacy with God the Father. Christians often do not understand the significance of this. We do not have to wait until we are in Heaven to intimately know God. We can get to know Him now. That is what He wants. He wants us to enter into His Presence and serve, love and know Him.
Psalms 140:13 tells us that, Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. We can come into His Presence and dwell; this lets us know that we do not have to leave His Presence but we can remain. How? Just as little children do with their parents. They play, learn, sleep and live under the protection, provision and guidance of their parents who love, teach and nurture them.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.(3)
This is an intense relationship that takes time, commitment and trust. Through commitment, we can maintain a long-term relationship that will build trust. These three elements (time, commitment and trust) gently move us into an intimate relationship with God that fulfils our needs and our highest purpose (relationship with God). We spend time with God because we want to do it, not because we are coerced into it through religion, guilt or pride. We can become distracted though, just as young children can, and walk away from the Presence of our Father. This creates an uncomfortableness within us that cannot be removed until we return to His Presence.
Take a child from his parents and he will at first be excited. Eventually though, he wants the protection, nurture and familiarity of his parents and becomes upset when he does not have it. The child may cry, throw a temper tantrum or withdrawal from those around him. We as adults can also do the same things. It is difficult to admit that our emotional distress is caused by something so simple. We are adults after all. We are independent, strong and emotionally whole. Right?
The Bible uses the analogy of a vine and a branch to describe this relationship. In John 15:1-8 Jesus says:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
We are to abide, to remain, in His Presence. In His Presence, we will find fulfillment, peace, joy, provision, love . . . everything that we need to be strong, secure children who are able to enjoy life.
Are you empty inside? Run back to the Presence of Your Father and find fulfillment, the purpose that can only be found there.
1. Genesis 1:26-27 & 2:7 - 8
2. Genesis 3:8-10
3. Romans 8:14 -17
Copyright © 2000 by Synthia Robinson-Pack. All rights reserved.