Emptiness: A Deadly Feeling That Becomes the Beginning of Blessing

Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling empty and wondering:

“What am I going to do today?

“For what and for whom am I doing it?”

“What is the benefit of my life?”

Life becomes a tedious routine. Your daily activities no longer interest you. You lose direction, and day after day passes without passion.

I lived that kind of life after heartbreak. Losing someone I loved triggered trauma within me and fostered negative, even evil, thoughts. That emptiness continued until it reached a deadly point. Why deadly? Because that feeling of emptiness made me plan to end my life.

The Positive Side of Emptiness

A few months later, I met a brother who shared his life experience and the word of God. Step by step, he guided me in improving my character and behavior.

Since then, my mindset has changed. I rarely feel bored and always have hope every time I wake up in the morning. I realized God was actually showing His love through the emptiness in my life.

Emptiness is a means toward life change that is good in God's sight.

What and Why Do I Feel Empty?

Ask yourself these two things:

1. Why?

Why am I bored with life?

First of all, look for the cause of your emptiness. Is it because of sin, or is there something else?

Jesus answered him, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” – John 4:13-14a

Why does sin make people bored with life?

Because the works of the flesh will not give true satisfaction, so we become empty and despairing. It could be, the emptiness in our lives is caused by sin. We do not understand the true purpose of life in God's sight.

2. How?

Then, how can my life have meaning?

A Christian must have a life purpose aimed toward Heaven. When our purpose is right, we become part of God's plan. We come to know ourselves better and become strong in facing trials or struggles.

“And if we are children, then we are also heirs, that is, people who have the right to receive God's promises, who will receive them together with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” – Romans 8:17

So, within the suffering of emptiness, God's glory is actually at work. Have deep confidence in God's promise (Philippians 2:12) and work out our salvation (1 Peter 1:5)

Four Bible figures who overcame the emptiness of life

In the process I went through, I learned from the responses of Bible figures. Here are four things you can learn from them:

1. Job - Sincerely love: forgive yourself and others

After being struck one after another by disaster, grief, bankruptcy, and even illness, Job felt that his life was passing quickly without happiness (Job 9:25-26).

"I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.” – Job 10:1

Job felt that God had withdrawn His love. Yet Job wrestled with that in prayer and trusted in God's justice. Above all, Job forgave and prayed for the people who had disappointed, humiliated, and accused him.

“Then the LORD restored Job's circumstances after he prayed for his friends, and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” – Job 42:10

Job's loving prayer ultimately became a means of restoration for himself. Forgiving is not about losing or winning, but about releasing your burden. By forgiving, you are actually loving yourself.

Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

2. Solomon - Respond with the right heart

Even Solomon, who had all the luxuries and pleasures of life, eventually reached a point of weariness and hated his life.

“Therefore I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for everything is vanity and a chasing after the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 2:17

However, with the right response of heart, Solomon learned to fear God and hold fast to His commandments.

“The end of the matter, all that has been heard, is this: fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the duty of every person.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13

3. Elijah - Comfort and pray for one another

After Elijah killed the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel pursued him to take revenge. Elijah became afraid and fell into depression.

“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, then sat down under a broom tree. Then he asked that he might die, saying: "It is enough! Now, O LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” – 1 Kings 19:4

God did not let Elijah suffer alone. The angel of the Lord came to comfort him and gave Elijah a new commission.

Emptiness becomes many times more deadly when we feel alone. When that happens, seek support and help from brothers and sisters in the faith. They can support you and pray for you in difficult times.

4. Jonah - Receive God's discipline through your quiet time

Because of Jonah's warning, the people of Nineveh repented of their evil, and God canceled the punishment on that city.

Yet instead of rejoicing, Jonah became angry because God forgave the people of Nineveh—who were, after all, enemies of the nation of Israel.

“… then he grew faint and wished to die, saying: “It is better for me to die than to live.” – Jonah 4:8

When Jonah sulked, God rebuked him. Because he only cared about the safety of his own nation, Jonah did not see that God also loves other nations and forgives those who are willing to repent.

Use your quiet time to open your heart and listen to what God says about your life.

The steps above are not an instant way to get rid of emptiness. We need to go through a process, beginning with self-reflection and humility in receiving God's discipline. When we trust that God will restore us, only then are we able to see emptiness as something positive.

May you have a meaningful life in the Lord!