We had a rare stargazing experience just recently. On an April night, the littles in bed, our teenager, Sara, was letting the dogs in for the night and called us to her side with a “you gotta see this” exclamation. We rushed to the back deck, only bundled in hoodies and flip-flops, and stood in shivering wonder at the blanket of stars covering the sky. I’m not an astronomy genius – I think I know Orion’s Belt – but I’m not so sure that’s visible from our position on the earth too well. So, I just marveled at the beauty, tried to pretend that I saw the Big Dipper as Sara was pointing it out, and was at a complete loss in comprehending the magnitude of… the magnitude.
I’m such a sap that I tuned them out, and found myself just in a state of being when a shooting star floated across the patch of night sky my eyes happened to be looking towards. The usual excitement came from such a viewing and I gestured to the area of sky, and told of my experience. But then the discontentment came, rushing in just as swiftly as the star that had shot through the night. I frantically searched the sky, afraid I was going to miss one, and I scolded myself as we ducked back inside to get ready for bed. What is wrong with me?! I saw a shooting star, something that not everyone gets to see, and I wasn’t satisfied!
Ever have something happen, or have the lack of anything happening, and there’s an urge to do something? As if there’s a void to fill? Some people experience the urge to shop, some the urge to reach for a tub of cookie dough (with or without ice cream), others alcohol, and some to pushing their body to the limit with extreme exercise (yes, it’s a thing – and no, I’ve never experienced the exercise method). Sure, you all probably know about the void-filling when something has happened to upset you – a death, a break-up, family quarrels, stressful job (or lack of job)… life is full of disappointments. But there are also voids that are nameless. It’s the nameless voids that scare me the most.
I was a single mom for almost 8 years – and I made it that long due to the support of my family and the goodness of God. During that time, I went through the motions of daily life: working full time to pay the bills, a little bit of time with my daughter, Sara, at the end of the day and on the weekends, and even without anything specific triggering it, there was something missing. I tried dating – that didn’t fill the void. I tried shopping (on my income, that was at thrift stores and on clearance racks – only). I tried going out with friends – alcohol being a big part of that “solution.” But none of these attempts helped other than to magnify that there was a void to begin with. And wouldn’t you know it? There are consequences that come from trying to fill the void with destructive behavior, too (alcoholism, drugs, sleeping around, etc.).
There have been times that nothing has fully presented itself as a void, but I just knew that there was something missing… lacking… that I was completely without. After many attempts with dating, trying to find that illusive significant other, I finally threw my hands in the air and gave up. Obviously, I was looking in the wrong places, had incorrect priorities, or (not knowing it at the time) God just had something better for me. I had been trying to fill the void with thrift stores and He wanted to fill it with shopping on Upper 5th Ave.
Ever wonder why in the heavens we go through life with this… dissatisfaction? We’re walking through life, everything seems good and then one day, out of nowhere it seems, we realize that we’re in a rut. Maybe it’s that we don’t have the latest iPhone, our car is so 10 years ago, or everyone else seems to be taking amazing vacations. I’ll feel better if I just find a new shirt to spruce up my frumpy wardrobe. No matter what we think we need or want – new gadgets, vacations, clothes, etc. – we’re never going to be satisfied on the level that is lacking. That’s because it’s a spiritual level.
Photo by Bethany Laird on Unsplash
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 (NIV) This is part of a conversation Jesus had with a Samaritan woman. Jesus asked her for some water, they got to talking, and Jesus read her mail. He told her that if she drank the water from the well – physical water – that she wouldn’t be fully satisfied. She would again experience thirst. But if she drinks the water He has to offer, her thirst will forever be satisfied. But Jesus didn’t stop there – like I said, He read her mail. He knew she didn’t have a husband, but she’d had 5 – and the one she was with then wasn’t her husband! She had been trying to fill the void, she was lacking, thirsty, and none of her “husbands” had successfully filled the void. She was trying to satisfy her thirst, but she had the wrong water.
In school, we learn that the body is made up of about 70% water. According to recent studies, the average adult is made up of approximately 50-65% water, averaging at 57-60%. Of course, this all depends on diet, exercise, and gender. Infants, interestingly enough, are at an average of 75-78% water composition! Even more interesting is that overweight men and women have even less water in their make-up compared to their leaner counterparts. Scientifically, we all require water. Ironic, isn’t it, that God created us with this specific requirement and He tells us to drink His water?
In Genesis 1:27 (NIV), the Bible says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Wait a minute! God is spirit – we just read that in the book of John. And we’re created in the image of God – let’s make sure we’re all there: we’re essentially spirit. Physical things, gizmos and gadgets, vacations, clothes, people, and shooting stars are not adequate to fill the void because our void is spiritual! We no longer have to approach God through a physical person – a high priest as the go-between. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that a time would come, and had come, that we would worship in spirit and in truth. It would no longer be burnt offerings offered by a priest, but an offering of our hearts to Jesus. A spiritual birth – “Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit,”” John 3:5-6 (NIV)
Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash
Is there a void that you know of? A void that you can’t quite place – you know something is lacking, you feel frustrated and “stagnant” – even disconnected, but everything in this physical life is A-Okay? Perhaps it’s time to look at your spiritual well-being and give your bank account a rest. Maybe put down the ice cream and pick up a Bible. What’s my favorite? I’ve discovered that I thrive when I turn on my worship playlist and just “soak.” It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or big sacrifice – it could be as simple as listening to a Christian radio station on your daily commute. Filling a spiritual void is simply seeking a relationship with God – you’ll continue to feel as though something is missing if you neglect your core spiritual being. Keep pressing forward in your relationship with your Creator – keep growing! He’ll always be there with exactly what you need to fill whatever void that comes along.
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV)