Growing up, my father would often talk to my sisters and I about the special place we had in his heart. He always talked about the heart as if it had sections, and there was a slot for each of us that beat specifically out of his love for us. But as we got older, my dad opened up about the empty spaces that can exist in every human heart— aching to be filled. 

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My parents often warned us of the dangers of looking for worldly things to fill that empty space. They taught us that seeking out random sparks of happiness and brief moments of fulfillment often leads to disappointment and pain. Our hearts are always longing for something more, and no matter how much we gain or experience, we cannot help but feel like life is never enough. That is why it is the human tendency to turn to different things to fulfill us, like people, achievements, or temporary pleasures, instead of allowing God to do the deeper work of filling our hearts. 

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We all have things that bring us happiness. Maybe it’s spending time with friends, indulging in a hobby you really enjoy, or celebrating an achievement. These can all be wonderful things that God wants us to enjoy and experience. But while these can bring joy in the moment, they are not the foundation on which we should build our lives. When I was a student in YouthCulture, Pastor Britt preached a sermon on happiness versus joy. I remember a clear difference she pointed out between the two was that joy was lasting. Happiness is always brief, a passing feeling that is dependent upon your circumstances. But pure, immense joy is peaceful and fulfilling in a way happiness is not. True joy comes from the Lord. Christ came and died for our sake so that our lives can be firmly rooted in the Father’s love, rather than in fleeting emotions or temporary fulfillment. When we allow Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith, as Paul teaches in Ephesians, we begin to grow roots in a love that is steady, sustaining, and unchanging. Being rooted in Christ’s love fills the empty spaces of our hearts and gives us a foundation that leads to everlasting joy and true fulfillment. 

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The Lord is so loving and kind to be with us and to desire our hearts for himself in every season of life. He longs to bring you peace, but his fulfillment is reliant on our willingness to allow him to work in you and surrender control. When we allow God to dwell at the center of our lives, he lifts our souls and anchors us in a peace the world can’t offer. 

This passage challenges us to examine where we have placed our roots. Are you placing God at the center of your life or are you relying on the things around you to bring you peace and joy? Only through the Father can we experience that satisfaction. Anything we place at the center of our lives becomes what we are rooted in, and only Christ is enough to sustain us. Take some time to reflect on your priorities and what your life is revolving around. What we return to for comfort, security, and identity often reveals what we are rooted in.

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Ask yourself:

• What is at the center of my life? If it’s not God, what is it? 

• How can I center my life back on him?

• What are some practical ways I can maintain Christ as my foundation instead of worldly things?

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Lord, you are so, so good. You sent your Son to die for us so that we can spend eternity with you forever. Too often we gloss over how much you desire us, and we look for fulfillment in the things of this world. You are the ultimate Savior and Fulfiller. You are the Light in the darkness of this broken world. Nothing compares to your overwhelming peace and joy found in your presence. Help us to seek you in every low and high in life. Teach us to rely on your strength rather than our own and to remain rooted in you when things seem uncertain. Draw our hearts back to you when we begin to drift, and fill every empty space in us with your love. May our lives be centered on you, now and always. Amen.