A few thoughts on empty spaces

I usually try to script my episodes out pretty carefully , but in this one I just want to talk to you . I don't know where you are and I don't know what you're doing , but my life has gotten busy again . I love my job and I love helping students figure out their lives between the ages of 18 and 22 .

There's a special thing that happens around that age Students start figuring out that their identities are less entangled with their parents and they start figuring out their own identities . I know that I have to often struggle with my own identity as well . It's fun watching them grow .

It's fun watching them change , but one of the things that I've learned as I've gotten older is there's often a time that I need negative spaces in my life . I'm not sure about you , but my life is filled with busyness and noise and distractions . We often need to create intentional negative space , these margins in our schedules where there are no obligations .

This isn't empty time , or maybe I should say it this way it is empty time . It is intentionally empty time when you slow down and think about things and prioritize your time with God . I think it's easy for us to get caught up in all the things that need to get done , but not on a definite schedule .

In this 46th Psalm we're told be still and know that I am God . I will be exalted among the nations . I will be exalted in the earth . I don't think that's God looking for a power trip , nor does he need all the attention .

But I think what he is doing is he's saying I've got this , I'm the one who's in control , I'm the one who has everything on my shoulders , so please take it off yours . Jesus often withdrew to lonely places . We read about that a lot in the Gospels .

I'm thinking right now about Luke , chapter five , and one of the things that Isaiah says is in repentance and rest is your salvation . In quietness and trust is your strength . Let's be clear the strength is in ours , the strength is God's . I'm not nearly as smart as I think I am .

I'm not nearly as strong as I think I am and I have so little control over what's going on around me . The Bible tells us to spend time in silence and reflect on God Again , be still . One of the things that gives us that margin is being able to say no to things that are sometimes good but sometimes distracting .

In Exodus , the 14th chapter says this the Lord will fight for you . You need only to be still . Yes , I know I'm wrenching that out of context , but we're not very good at being still . I've heard it called the do something disease , and sometimes God tells us you can do nothing . So let me fight this .

In Exodus 33 , god makes this promise my presence will go with you and I will give you rest . It's being reminded of these things . That's helpful for me . God provides us both the space to reflect on His character and how he works in our lives .

I don't know that we often slow down and think about the ways that God is acting in our lives , and don't take that in a strange way . I will be very frank with you . I don't know how he acts in our lives and I worry about people who say that they do know . Yes , I know he has given us His word , but if he directly acts in my life , I don't know .

I'm happy for Him to do whatever he wants to , though , because whatever he ends up doing ends up being good for me . It is often in silence where our busy minds and our busy schedules allows us to hear God's voice clearer .

I'm not talking about a literal voice , but I am saying that when you have the time to think , it gives you time to contemplate what God does For me . It's easy to get overwhelmed with thoughts about the worst-case scenario . In 2 Corinthians , paul has this to say .

In chapter 10 , verse 5 , he says we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God , and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ . Christ is the one that's in control . God is the one that's in control . So how do you do any of this ? Being silent helps us align our thoughts with God's plans .

Regular times in silence help us to focus on God . So find some time , think about what God wants us to do . Take a walk , slow down and let me pray . Dear God , we need help , and often more help than we know we need . We have the illusion that we're in control of a lot of stuff . There are some things that are absolutely under our control .

Help us to do the things that we can do , but show us our limits . Show us what we cannot do . Show us a picture of where you want us to be . We have a one track mind . We often have a definite plan of where we want to be . Help us to come in more alignment with what you want . There are a lot of things we're worried about .

We know you told us not to , but we do it anyway . Help us to worry less , or at least to give you the stuff that we cannot take ourselves . We love you , lord , but sometimes we're not very good at showing that , so help us to learn what love means .

We also realize , lord , that love means we do stuff for other people , so help us to be intentional about that . Help us to be good to other people . Help us to help them . Help us to focus less on ourselves . Help us to be less selfish and help us to be more like you . Help us to have a life that is used for service .

Forgive us when we do the wrong thing and help us recognize what that wrong thing was .

We realize , lord , your law is not something you made up just to watch us go through hoops . By following your law , you make us better . You make us more like you . Be with our friends , be with our family . Help us to learn to love other people more . Help us to be servants . In Christ's name , we pray , amen . I hope that helps you .

I know this is a lot different than what I usually do , but I hope this is something that helps you , centered for just for today . I've been toying with doing a lot of these because I think they're short and for me they're useful . So until next time , let's be good and do good .