How can I overcome a feeling of spiritual emptiness?

Answer

Unfortunately, all Christians experience feelings of spiritual emptiness occasionally. Fortunately, God foresaw this and has provided us with plenty of helpful guidance in His Word.

It is often sin that leads to our feelings of spiritual emptiness—perhaps the sin of indifference towards God or laziness in our daily routines. Additionally, our physical well-being can influence our spiritual state. Therefore, the primary advice to combat feelings of spiritual emptiness may involve examining whether we have been disobedient to God’s instructions for us. Ephesians 5:15–18 advises, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Subsequently, we should ensure that we are taking care of ourselves physically—are we getting adequate rest, eating well, and so on?

A Christian may experience spiritual emptiness at times, but they never have to remain in that state. No regenerated Christian is ever devoid of the Holy Spirit. All who are born again have received the Holy Spirit’s baptism the moment they put their faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-10). The Holy Spirit has sealed every believer “for the day of redemption” «And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. », (Ephesians 4:30).

Therefore, the solution to overcoming spiritual emptiness lies in being “filled up” with the Holy Spirit. While this may seem obvious, the question remains: how does one achieve this? Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, in his booklet “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” proposes the following steps:

1) Sincerely dDesire to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6 and John 7:37-39).

2) Acknowledge your sins and express gratitude to God for forgiving all your sins, whether past, present, or future (Colossians 2:13-15;1 John 1:1—2:3).

3) Surrender every aspect of your life to God for His merciful guidance (Romans 12:1-2).

4) Through faith, embrace the fullness of the Holy Spirit as commanded in Ephesians 5:18 and promised in 1 John 5:14–15.

By following these four steps, you are essentially engaging in spiritual breathing—exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure. Through faith, you are praying for what God already knows you require—the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Often, when allowing the Spirit to fill you, there will be an immediate longing to feast on God’s daily bread—the Bible. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” «But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. », (Matthew 4:4).

It is also beneficial to know where to seek encouragement. Overcoming feelings of spiritual emptiness is often not an intellectual or academic exercise; instead, we require the personal connection of another born-again believer. This is where the church plays a role, with fellow brothers and sisters available, Bible study and support groups held locally, and, of course, worship services and the preaching of God’s Word. It is regrettable to dwell on spiritual emptiness when fellow believers are willing to offer assistance.