At the inauguration of his public ministry, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, nothing in hand. Completely empty. Interestingly, Matthew 4:1 tells us Jesus, God-in-flesh, was led there “to be tempted by the devil.” All along this was part of God’s plan. Jesus then fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights and man. He was hungry, and when his flesh was at its weakest moment, the devil comes along. Tempting with fame, power, and fortune.
The Value of Emptiness
We often view emptiness as a sign of weakness, but Jesus shows that it can be your greatest ally. When we empty ourselves and allow space for God…the Enemy will be thwarted. Temptation comes with the lures of this world, and Jesus models the ideal response. He shows us that we must go to the Father.
But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:3
How to Handle this Feeling of Empty
When we feel empty, we often try to fill the void with things that we think will satisfy. The knawing, aching, unsatisfying feelings have a name. They are known as lonely, ordinary, worthless, jealous, anxious, anger and more. When insecure feelings loom in the room, we try to hush them out. This world tells us that we should have and be better than the have nots. When silence is in the room, rather than quiet our souls…we rush quickly to fill our heads and hands with duty and distraction.
Try to slow down during this season of Lent and reflect on the empty tomb. Our hope and strength are not found in what we do but rather the work Christ performed on the cross. Engage your heart today to find rest as you reflect on your emptiness. Embrace the salvation you cannot earn, and then worship your Heavenly Father.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I️ confess my frailty and depth of sin; oh how often I️ choose self-reliance. Remind me to empty myself of worldly desires and come running to you as my Provider. Only you can satisfy the longings of my heart. Fill me now with more of you.