Recently I was having a particularly rough day, and I decided I could either stay home and cry, or I could go grab a coffee and hopefully cry less. I packed up my baby and made my way to my favorite coffee shop 20 minutes away. On my way home, coffee in hand, I realized I didn’t feel any better than when I’d left (aside from being slightly more caffeinated). Hm.
Have you ever been having a rough day or week and the narrative surrounding you, whether it’s friends, your own thoughts, or general society, is saying, “You deserve a break; go do something for yourself!” Or perhaps the famous, “You can’t pour from an empty cup—treat yourself!” Society has become obsessed with self-care and self-love. I’m not saying the things we enjoy are wrong or that taking care of ourselves is wrong. What I am saying is that we have become dangerously accustomed to filling the voids in our lives with things other than Jesus. Think about it: You had a bad day at school, or you got into a fight with a friend—what’s the first thing you want to do when you get home? Perhaps it’s scrolling social media, watching Netflix, or diving into a hobby that distracts you from your rough day and makes you feel a little bit better. It’s true that you can’t “pour from an empty cup,” but what are you filling your cup with?
Jesus didn’t tell his disciples that he was going to take a break and head to town to relax with a massage and a good book.
Stress is inevitable, so how did Jesus cope with it? Scripture tells us that he “would often slip away to the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:16 NASB). After he sent the crowds away, Jesus didn’t tell his disciples that he was going to take a break and head to town to relax with a massage and a good book. Instead, he left to pray alone and spend time with the Father. The Bible also tells us that he got up early in the morning while it was still dark, to pray. Jesus had a much more difficult, draining, and stressful life than you or I do. He was constantly moving from city to city, speaking to and teaching thousands, discipling his constant following, and withstanding rejection by many. His life was not easy, and the thing he turned to was prayer. Prayer was not merely a way to pass time and unwind, it was a necessity; something he couldn’t survive his hectic life without.
Prayer is our direct line to heaven, to God himself. The Creator of the universe hears your prayers. That is a fact that should completely humble us and bring us to our knees. Ask any Jew of the Old Testament how crazy it is that we can simply talk to God whenever we want!
Having a long list of rules, sacrifices, and rituals seems appropriate when approaching the Being that spoke everything into existence. Jesus gave us an indescribable gift when he became the perfect sacrifice and broke the barriers between us and God.
The next time you’re having a bad day and feeling discouraged, as you’re about to slip into the old habit of using whatever it is that you do to make yourself feel better, stop yourself and evaluate. Will this fulfill me? Or does this lead to emptiness? Be honest with yourself.
Anything that is used to fill what only God can fill, no matter how good or harmless it seems, is an idol. Repent, and form a new habit, one of coming to God first, and everything else second. You will find the peace and healing that you’re looking for!
2 Responses
Excellent word, Cheyenne!
Very true, thanks for sharing.