A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb, but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet. Proverbs 27:7
The desire for fullness is one that we all have. It is in the satisfaction of being secure in the provision for our emotional, spiritual, and physical needs we can find true rest. In the absence of fullness, there is hunger, desire, and want. We all can be guilty of ignoring that emptiness. Seeing it as a sin, we can avoid acknowledging it. Finding ourselves busy with other things of importance, we can neglect it. Left unaddressed, it will expand inside us, hollowing us out as it searches to be filled. As the proverb says, emptiness is prone to produce a gluttony that will distort our wants and desires. Creating longing can leave us grasping at “every bitter thing” for peace, comfort, or any relief – even temporary.
But emptiness is not the enemy; it is an indicator of a need. As we seek to fulfill the desire within us, we face an onslaught of options. Driven by our own insecurities and weaknesses, our focus could be drawn to various deficient sources for a solution. Those alternatives will lead us to maladaptive behaviors and habits that deplete us further. They are poison to our souls. Like acid, they burn through us, producing greater pain in our already aching hearts. God is the one true source of fulfillment. He alone can fill us to satisfaction.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:8-9
Emptiness and hunger will come in our lives. It is part of the brokenness of our world. We can’t control or change that reality. However, those of us who are in Christ have been given the divine blessing to see the One who can satiate our desires. We have been given the knowledge that we will be filled by the Bread of Life. If you find yourself with emptiness and longing, ask the Spirit to give you a willingness to submit to God. He is faithful to fill you with nourishment that will sustain you, a promise that brings hope and encouragement in your journey of faith.
For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. John 6:33-35
