Filling The Void

Lately it seems like God has been putting a lot of people in front of me that are going through something, and that "something" has caused them to realize they have a major void in their life. I don't think it is a coincidence that when a hardship comes into our life we realize something is missing. It's the hardship that sometimes makes us realize we can't do this on our own and causes us to search for something deeper in our lives. I hate to keep saying "something", but a lot of times when you realize the void is there you really aren't sure what it is yet...what's missing? But as you begin to surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit you will realize that what has been missing the entire time is either God, or a deeper relationship with God.
When you're not walking with God and you realize something is missing in your life. And the feeling you have can feel a lot like looking at a puzzle and trying to figure out which piece fits there. We will find so many things to try to fill that void with, but nothing seems to work. Just like looking at that puzzle and saying to yourself I know a piece is supposed to fit here, but which one. So you begin to pick up piece after piece to put into that spot. Sometimes you will see a piece and swear that has to be the one. It looks like it would fit...it's the right shape, it's the right size...but it's not the right piece. You can turn that piece again and again and keep trying, but if it's not what is meant to go there, it just isn't going to work. Trying to fill the void in your life with something other than God is much like this. The enemy will show you things that seem like they will fill the void. They look attractive and they may even bring you a temporary moment of happiness, but you will quickly (or sometimes not so quickly) find out that the void is still there. That "thing" that you tried to use to fill the void was not what your soul was longing for. And sometimes when we've chased the wrong thing for too long the void fills even greater and we walk away from chasing the wrong things feeling even more empty. Why does this happen? It happens because our creator knows what we need and put a longing in us to have a relationship with Him. And we have tried everything else to fill the void that only He can fill and without Him our spirit (the very thing that wants to connect with Him) can no longer be satisfied.
One of the best examples I was thinking about when it comes to filling the void in our life with God was a flower pot. A flower pot is meant to have soil it in. And soil is what a flower needs to grow. A flower needs other things to grow as well, but soil is the very thing it must have. You can fill a flower pot with water, but it's not going to work. You fill it will sunlight and it's still not going to work. You can fill it with rocks, sand or even straight fertilizer, but the flower isn't going to grow correctly. The void in that flower pot must be filled with the correct soil if you want the flower to grow as it should. Filling that void with anything else just won't satisfy the flower's needs. Our hearts are much like this. The love of a man or woman is not going to do it. The use of a substance is not going to do it. The next big purchase is not going to do it. And even the love of our friends or our children is not going to fully do it. It's the relationship with God that fills the void of our soul. And once you begin to fill that void with God He longs to take you deeper and fill you with even more.
If you are going through something and realize you fill empty. If you realize you have tried for to long to fill the void in your life with to many "things" and nothing seems to work. If you are sick of feeling empty with failed attempts at finding peace and joy....then please turn to God. God and a relationship with Jesus are what your soul is longing for, even if you don't fully realize it yet. Don't let the lack of knowing who God is stop you from speaking out to Him and asking Him to fill you up inside. Accepting that He is your creator, He knows what is best for you, and He gave the gift of His son so He could be in fellowship with you is a revelation that the enemy never wants you to figure out. So today stop chasing things that will just end up leaving you empty on the inside and look to the only One who really knows what it takes to satisfy your soul.
For more on how God can satisfy your soul please check out these scriptures: John 10:10, Isaiah 58:11, John 6:35, Proverbs 19:23, Psalm 145:16, Psalm 107:9, Psalm 65:4, Psalm 37:4 and Romans 15:13
God, thank You that You are the creator of our soul and You know what it takes to fill the void inside of us. Thank You that You never stop trying to reach that spot inside of us that is reserved for You. Holy Spirit help those that are searching to realize that nothing can take the place of a relationship with Jesus Christ and give them wisdom even beyond their understanding to turn from what they are chasing and give their life to You. In Jesus name, Amen