In work, it is the feeling that all days are dog days. You cannot get the work done to meet the deadlines. Mistakes are more often than you want to admit. Life is overwhelming. You have nothing more to give.
In your spiritual life, it is the desert. The songs that once moved your heart closer to God are just playing. The times of prayer seem to have disappeared. Spiritual companionship is now characterized by distance. The words of Scripture are just words.
You are empty. You are burned out. There is no more to give.
Spiritual emptiness comes from many things. Some of it comes from the busy-ness of life. Some of it is the product of the loss of discipline in our life. Most of it is found in direct proportion to fellowship and prayer.
Fellowship is a great antidote to emptiness. It is just hanging out with friends and enjoying good company. Fellowship reminds us that we are not alone and God has given us great company to live our life. I highly recommend that Christians feeling a sense of emptiness connect themselves to fellow Christians.
Prayer is being with God. It is spending time listening to the chords in your soul. It is just allowing God to breathe with you. God speaks to your inner struggles if you stop to listen. God brings to your ears the songs of life that once gave you great joy.
Someone once said, "You can not give away what you do not have." The gift of faith is what God gives to us in our emptiness. This gift is not like the gifts that the world gives. It is the gift that lifts us up.
Are you empty? Are you burnt? Connect with God and God's people. Begin by finding your way to worship Sunday!
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Rev. Dr. Jack O'Dell
Lead Pastor
The Well UMC
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