Letting God Fill My Empty Places

Letting God Fill My Empty Places

Renee Swope

It was a source she’d come to depend on. A place she went to get her needs met. But it was never enough; every day she came back for more. Filling her jar with water, the woman looked up and heard Him ask her for a drink. Then He offered her something in return: living water. He said the water He offered would satisfy her so deeply she’d never thirst again.

“You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” she asked (John 4:11).

She didn’t realize Jesus wanted to satisfy a deeper thirst in her heart—a longing He Himself had created and one that only He could satisfy. All He needed to draw with was His Spirit. As far as the depth of the well, it was her heart He was looking into. She was the only one who could prevent Him from reaching the parts that needed Him most.

I know that place of needing Jesus to look into my heart and show me the emptiness only He can fill. Like the woman at the well, I’ve depended on other means to get my needs met. Yet, when I look to other sources instead of to Him, I always come up empty.

I’ve looked to people: family and friends, bosses and boyfriends, teachers and mentors. I’ve longed for their approval and the affirmation that comes with it.

I’ve also looked to possessions and positions and mistakenly put my hope in recognition. I’ve thought, If only I had, or if only I could …

But no matter how much I do or get, it’s never enough to fill me up. And it’s not supposed to. Because the empty places in our hearts were created to be filled by God alone. The deepest thirst of our souls can only be quenched by Him.

We see this deep thirst even in King David, who had everything: the highest position, unlimited possessions, and great power—yet none of it was enough. He described himself as parched and thirsty for God: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

Then David described what he experienced when he drank deeply of God’s love: “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands” (Psalm 63:3–4). The same thing happened to the woman Jesus met at the well. She drank deeply of His love and was filled to overflowing.

God put a longing in our hearts intended to lead us back to Him. Only His unconditional acceptance, approval, and affirmation can fill the empty places in our hearts—the deepest thirst of our souls. Until God’s love and acceptance are enough, nothing else will be.

Dear Lord, show me the empty places in my heart and how I can position my heart to be filled and fulfilled by the fullness of Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

Jesus wants to satisfy a deep thirst in your heart—a longing He Himself has created and one that only He can satisfy.

REFLECT

How would your emotional state differ if you really believed and trusted that God fulfills?

RESPOND

Think back to ways Jesus has filled you in the past. Fill a pitcher with water. For every time you remember Jesus satisfying you, pour water from the pitcher into a cup. Keep filling until it overflows, knowing that is how Jesus longs to fill you.

POWER VERSES

Psalm 143:8; Jeremiah 2:13