Empty.

Empty and hungry for anything.

Empty and thirsting for something to quench a sore throat.

Empty and lonely. 

Empty, confused, wandering in the wilderness.

The empty tomb.

Fulfilled.

Fulfilled prophecy.

Fulfilled sacrifice.

Fulfilled love.

Fulfilled life. 

Fulfilled by Jesus Christ. 

Empty may not seem powerful, but an empty tomb is everything. Yesterday was obviously Easter if you are reading this in ‘real time,’ and it hit me in a different, more powerful way this year. 

If I’m being honest, I was an ‘Easter & Christmas Type Christian,’ meaning I only went on major holidays and a few times in between. There were plenty of excuses, and they still try to creep in, habits formed over the years. Playing sports growing up kept my Sundays full. Working as a teacher felt too exhausting by the time Sundays and volunteer opportunities came around, and the list kept going. While all of my past gave me opportunities to spread God’s love, from being the teammate that was truly there for my friends to a teacher who loved all her students like Jesus taught me, there was still emptiness in me. Once I started going all in with my faith, I noticed a shift in my thinking and actions. 

It was not a quick one-day revolution for me. I’m a slow-burning story, most likely because deep down I’m stubborn. Looking back, there were many moments in my life when I was empty without realizing it. It is not always easy to notice it when you are lacking. I was lacking in relationships, many of them surface-level and centered around partying. I was lacking in knowledge of what it means to follow God, to truly surrender, and accept God’s loving grace. I saw religion instead of God’s love in my past, and it fed my guiltly conscious of my sins and mistakes I made. I was empty in my loneliness and looked for love in relationships that were not meant for me. 

Slowly, I started to dip my toe into learning about the love God has for you and for me. This was not an all-in-one day, week, or year, even, but I slowly started to add God in my life as I should have all along. I started listening to worship songs. I tried harder to go to church every Sunday.  I started reading my Bible and tried short-term Bible studies. Then I decided to volunteer in our VBS and Student Ministry, thanks to a good push from a bible study friend. Before I knew it, I was going all in! 

This was also the time I started to realize changes in me; I was beginning to fill those empty places in my life with new fulfillment in God. I still had a demanding job, but I made volunteering, studying my bible, and going to church a priority. I no longer sought relationships with people for love but knew I had the ultimate love in my relationship with God, so I started pouring myself into growing that relationship. As I poured into my relationship with God, my relationships with friends and family deepened in love as well. I am open to a relationship with a significant other, but it is no longer a priority, and I am letting it happen on God’s time, and if it is not ‘in the cards for me,’ then I am fully loved by God, and that is all I need. I am in no way perfect, and I struggle to put God first all the time, but I catch myself quickly now and see the parts of my life that would be empty if I did not recognize the power of the empty tomb and what God did for me. 

I am more fulfilled today because of Jesus. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me by dying for our sins. This Easter season, I am reflecting on the power of God’s love in planning and allowing His Son to die for me. While it is heavy, it also lifts a weight off of me because I do not have to do this alone. I am no longer empty but truly fulfilled by God. 

With faith,
Melanie Drews
Paws on God’s Path