We’re always searching for that thing that’ll make us happy. But when we attain it, we realize true happiness still eludes us. Like going to an all you can eat breakfast buffet only to find out they ran out of bacon.
It’s the same way with our search for happiness. God made our souls to find its happiness in Him. No matter what we try to replace our relationship to Him with, there will always be a God-sized void.
But you might say, “Oh geez, I already know this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We replace that void with idols. Money, relationships, success, whatever.” It’s not enough to know what we use to fill the voids, we first need to find root of the voids.
So look out for the times that you are unhappy and when you are, ask yourself, “Why?” Let’s say you feel a void because you’re lonely or financially stressed. Which idol (relationship, money, whatever) you choose to fill the happiness void is secondary.
Loneliness or allowing yourself to be financially stress causes the void. So obviously I’m going to say that the void only exists because we removed God from there, and to fix it you put God back in.
But it’s one thing to say, “Yeah, I’ll look to God,” but it’s another thing to put it into practice. So how can you look to God for your true happiness? Most people at this point would say “prayer” is the answer. But if that’s all our answer is, it’s wrong.
If all we’re doing is praying, we’re essentially asking God to change our feelings. That’s like asking God to get rid of your hunger, when right in front of you God has given you bacon. Not the kind you get in a buffet, that’s basically thin strips of wax paper, but rather thick, perfect bacon – with no nitrates.
You don’t ask for the hunger to be removed, you eat the bacon and then your hunger will be removed. That ‘bacon’ of course is God’s Word. For example, are you unhappy because you have low self-esteem? Well here’s a verse you can point to, “(PS 139:14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Are you unhappy because your life sucks and things are tough? Try Romans 8:28.
Turning to God means having faith in God, and faith is: Knowing God’s Word, Believing in God’s Word and Applying God’s Word
If God’s Word is the foundation, where does prayer fit in? We pray for wisdom in finding the right passage (Knowing God’s Word), we pray for help to believe in those passages (Believe God’s Word) and we pray for wisdom to apply God’s Word properly. Do you have a void in your life? Fill it with God – through His Word. Are you hungry? Eat bacon.
So what do we do now? When trying to fill a void in your life with God:
1. Find a relevant passage that speaks to your need. Do a Google search for “Bible verses” along with your need, like “Bible verses loneliness”.
2. Memorize the verses, or at least key phrases of the verses. (Knowing God’s Word)
3. Pray that God will help you trust in his Word (Believing God’s Word)
4. Pray for wisdom so you know how to apply God’s Word. (Apply God’s Word) Voids are created when we try to find our ultimate happiness apart from God.
Fill that God-sized void through God, through His Word. Are you hungry? Eat bacon.
PS 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. PS 119:12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. PS 119:13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. PS 119:14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. PS 119:15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. PS 119:16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Take Time To Pray: Ask God for wisdom to find the verses you need to overcome your voids. Today’s Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness