Joy in the Morning: A 6-Day Devotional by Tauren WellsSample

EMPTY | DAY FIVE

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Have you ever noticed that gold

Sparkles in the light, but it’s cold

In your hands

About a year ago, I was sitting in my song writing room at my house thinking about the amazing fact that I have a room in my home that Lorna let me decorate any way I wanted (major win). A room that was there exclusively as a space to let my creative juices flow. This is a stark contrast from the previous two decades of “creative spaces” I used to write and record, like closets or under a blanket at the dining room table. What a tremendous blessing! I took a long look around the room, admiring my deep green walls that held several plaques that serve as memorial stones from songs that, by the grace of God, have connected with people all over the world. What a blessing! I could hear the busy little feet of my, then, 3 boys on their latest adventure through the ceiling. They were probably in ninja costumes with flashlights and all types of make-shift weapons as they hunted make-believe monsters. What an incredible blessing! In the other room my amazing wife was prepping the house for our family that would soon gather to celebrate a televised award ceremony that I had the privilege of being featured in. It’s the dream! What a blessing! I went over to the upright piano, the same piano I started the song Hills and Valley’s on just a few years back. With all the good that surrounded me and with all the beauty that filled my life I thought when my hands touched the keys a song of gratitude and praise would burst out. But, the words that flowed over a simple melancholy chord progression were “You could have it all…and still feel empty.” Was my life full but my soul empty? If it was, I wasn’t aware of what was happening beneath the surface. If it were true, how could I feel this way? Here I am surrounded by more than I could ever need or deserve, a beautiful family, a flourishing ministry and career, yet still an intangible longing persists.

Solomon, whom most credit to be the gatherer and distributor of the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, was the wisest man who ever lived. He was also one of the wealthiest, revered, successful people in all of history. He shared the often overlooked truth that “God has placed eternity in our hearts, a universe-sized expanse that would swallow the world whole if it could — and still be hungry.” Wow! What a remarkable insight that helps us clarify the feelings that so often rise to the surface, even when things are going well, and our dreams are coming true. Even if something is good. Even if something is a blessing. Even if something is a gift from the very hand of God. It’s still not God and is therefore unable to quench the thirst for what we crave most.

A friend of mine sent the book “40/40” recently and I have been spending a lot of time with it. In their commentary on purpose in life, the authors Peter Greer and Greg Lafferty share two profound perspectives that made me evaluate my life in a whole new light. “You have to face the meaninglessness of your self-made life before you can consider life from another source.” Yeah, I know. They go on to quote George Bernanos who smoked me right in the face with this quote, “In order to be prepared to hope in what does not deceive, we must first lose hope in everything that deceives.”

We have to reset our expectations. I’m trying to ask myself more questions about the motives behind the expectations I have set. I’m a goal person. I love setting and achieving goals. I don’t want to waste my life or any thing, great or small, God gave me to fulfill His purpose. I think that’s good for the most part, but I’m trying to readjust what I am expecting to receive from the things that I want to accomplish. I know, as I’m sure you know, only God can satisfy the soul. So I have to ask, what am I expecting from my wife, from my kids, from my job, from my ministry, from my advancement, from my life on earth? If I’m expecting them to give me what only God can, well, I’ll always feel empty. An even greater truth to acknowledge is that we will never feel ultimate fulfillment or satisfaction here on earth. I know. That can be frustrating in a way, but that soul-ache is a persistent reminder that one day, we inherit Heaven and one day, stepping on to that golden shore, we will breathe deeply in relief that our soul finally has everything it’s always wanted.

When you don’t even know what you’re living for

It’s the questions that tell you there’s something more