The Fullness That Leaves Us Empty - Lori Altebaumer

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Tuesday, January 4th, 2022    
by laltebaumer     2 Comments

“… that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV

We made it through another one. You know … the season when our calendars are full and so are our tummies. We’ve hustled and bustled. We decked the halls and dished the desserts.

Ahhh … the holidays. The season of fullness.

We jammed our calendars to full with decorating, shopping, social gatherings, and innumerable other holiday festivities. We loaded our plates with candy and calories.

We are full to the point of being over-full.

Now as we slip into those stretchy pants on a cold January morning, exhausted and feeling as though something is missing, we are left wondering how another Christmas came and went without the joy of a silent night or the harkening to hear a herald angel sing.

After weeks of being full, we find ourselves feeling completely empty.

What if we went after the Word of God as eagerly as we consumed those mounded plates of sugar cookies? What if we sought after truth as diligently as we searched the internet or store aisles for Christmas gifts? What if we were as passionate about scheduling time with Jesus as we were planning holiday dinner parties?

I know a thing or two about diligence and perseverance. After all, I’m a Texan. There is no such thing as leftovers in the basket of crunchy tortilla chips and bowls of tangy salsa. I’m never too full to finish what I started when it comes to chips and salsa.

But do I treat my time with the Lord with the same enthusiasm? Am I as committed to getting every last delicious morsel he has for me as I am to consuming those unhelpful carbs?

It’s an interesting paradox that the more I allow the fullness of God to fill me, the less desire I have for the earthly things with which I am tempted to fill myself. 

I can’t un-eat all those holiday goodies or get a second back of the time spent on activities that added no discernable value to my life. But I can decide to fill up with the fullness of God. I don’t have to wait for another Christmas to squeeze every drop of his goodness from the banquet he sets before me.

And when Christmas rolls around this year, may my most treasured gift be the peace and joy of finding myself “filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

What a sweet thought that is!

Happy New Year!