Do You Feel Empty?

When someone asks, ‘Hey, how are you?’ we all expect the same answer: ‘Fine, and you?’

It’s part of a social script we thoughtlessly participate in, a way of acknowledging someone’s presence with the pretense of a passing conversation.

If we were to begin truthfully answering that question, ‘How are you?’ how often would we respond, “Well, I’m tired, I’m at the end of my rope, I’m being buried alive under my responsibilities and my pain… I am running on empty.”

Maybe the situation is reversed – who all would answer us in this way? If there was no script, no expectation of “I’m fine,”, how many people would reveal that they are pouring from an empty cup, running on empty.

Times change, but people don’t. The Apostle Paul penned this blessing to the believers who were meeting in house churches, who were fighting their flesh daily to walk in the Spirit and renew their minds from the bondage of their culture and context, not to mention the persecution that was coming after so many of these early Christians.

They probably would’ve also confessed that they were at the end of their rope, in great need.

But Paul promises a better way: believing the God of Hope will fill us when we are empty.

In the original language, this phrase of being filled carries meanings like ‘filled to the brim’, and ‘complete.’ The phrase also conveyed the idea that whatever fills up your heart, mind, and soul will be what drives you forward.

What you are filled up with, will be what comes pouring out.

Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit…

Paul doesn’t stop at saying God will fill them and complete them… he adds even more description and emphasis: ALL. All joy, all peace. In Greek, this ‘all’ word means ‘without exception.’

God is not holding out on us! He isn’t giving us a part or percentage of His hope, joy, and peace, but the maximum amount that He has promised. God loves us so much that He gives us a complete measure, filled to the brim and overflowing with all that He intends for us to walk in through faith.

Now, when someone asks… ‘How are you?’

You can answer, “I believe the promises and God are true, and therefore I am full and overflowing with God’s perfect joy and peace, with unshakable hope in Him!”

Will you please join me in prayer now?

Lord, You are generous and loving, Your provide for me out of Your immeasurable riches and abundant mercy! Renew my mind to see myself as full of your hope, love and joy, living in the truth of Your word rather than a misguided and warped perception that I am less than, or that I am always lacking. These are nothing more than lies! Remove them from me. I am grateful that You give me all that I need, that You make me complete, and that You never withhold from me when I put my full faith and trust in You. Your joy and peace propel me forward to keep running the race and keeping the faith, making disciples and fulfilling the good works that You have prepared for me. Thank You for never holding back, and for giving me the full measure of Your hope, joy, and peace! In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

peace and blessings,

Kathy Branzell

President