When we feel emptiness, a restlessness full of uncertainty, within our deepest self, we want to act as quickly as possible and do something. Anything! We do not want to acknowledge it, let alone entertain or sit with it, because we do not know what will be asked of us. We try to avoid looking at it and pretend it isn't there. We keep busy; filling our time, hoping it will just go away!
Emptiness can occur because of a great number of reasons: loss, illness, major changes in life, unfulfilled expectations, relationship issues, financial difficulties, and such. It has invaded what seemed to be normal to us, and we want to whisk it out the door. Emptiness is challenging us to turn to it; to look deep into its eyes and enter.
Like a little child filled with fear, we do not enter alone. We invite Papa into this emptiness with us. We take His hand and walk closely beside Him as we explore this deep, dark cavern together. We do not know what is lurking there in the darkness, but hope that God will shine His light upon it.
We may discover that we need to change a behavior that has become detrimental to us. It could be that we need to move toward forgiveness in a difficult relationship. We may have to accept the illness or loss of a loved one. We may need to cut back in our shopping, food, or alcohol consumption. We may be called to make a life changing move, or let go in an area in which we want to control. There are many and various reasons that this feeling has entered our lives, and until we get the courage to sit with it and bring God in, it will not go away.
Letting go and asking God for His help, will begin to move us in the right direction. Trusting that He is with us, to fill us with His grace and goodness, will make our task less difficult. Remembering that Papa loves us and wants only what is best for us, will help us to run to Him when that feeling of emptiness rears its ugly head.
We must have a change of mind and heart, and see the invitation from God to move from emptiness to fullness. A fullness of the love He wants to pour lavishly into our lives!
Our grief will become peace, our anger changed to forgiveness, our pride to humility, our fear to hope, our stubbornness to acceptance, and our will to God’s will.
Funny, just reading this gives me a feeling of trepidation. Fear of the unknown, unfulfilled expectations and the like are daunting and very difficult situations to face alone. Praise be to God that we don't have to face these situations without the help of a God who loves us. How beautifully you worded this Avia Joy...to look at this an an invitation from God to move into a different place.
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