Running Into Walls

by Madison Smith

Have you ever felt as though you had nothing left? Maybe something as simple as working out…you eventually run out of strength and energy. You can relate, right? Or maybe it’s something a little more complex. Maybe you have poured out all of your time and love for Jesus or others you care about, and you just don’t have it anymore. Maybe you have lost hope for the future. Or maybe you have just flat out lost all happiness. I’ll be honest and say that I have been in ALL of these positions. (Yes…even the working out situation!)

I have found that there is this wall that almost everyone runs into: emptiness. This is because we are human, and it is so easy for us to run back to our old ways, our past empty lives. This, for me, is true. I remember maybe a year ago or so when I let myself slip into this mindset in which I was never happy. Sure, I could enjoy certain things in life, but I was never truly happy. I was both sad and mad all of the time. I kept running into the same wall. Over and over and over and over again. It literally felt as though I would never get over that wall and that the feeling of unhappiness would last forever. Nothing I did ever seemed to fill me. I want y’all to see something about this whole thing…If you were to go back into time, you would see that I wasn’t praying regularly. I wasn’t reading my Bible, and I barely ever thanked Jesus for saving me. I was living in disobedience by not spending time with Him when I KNEW He wanted me to do exactly that. 

Recently, I began to spend time with my Father. I began to pray about EVERYTHING. I began to turn away from my old self, and amazing things started to happen. God broke down that wall for me!! I now find joy in the simplest of things. I don’t get mad at everything. And I thoroughly enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit! THAT is the hope I want you guys to see!! Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to live empty lives! He died so that whatever we have lost can be restored!!
 
What if Jesus is waiting for you to connect with him, so that he can give you his best by filling those holes in your heart? Have you ever thought about seeking God in all that you do and simply asking Him to restore whatever you are missing? God loves you SO much that He would do that for you!!

I will leave you with Matthew 11:28-30 from The Message Bible: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”