Feeling Empty Inside --- why?!?

[sk8brdkd]

For the last week I guess, I've been feeling down and empty inside. Why?

I haven't "moved away" from God. I still talk to him throughout the day and pray often esp at night normally for a friend of mine.

I don't understand why I'm feeling like this. I know b4 I became a Christian, I felt super empty inside too but, of course now, I understand why but, being that I'm filled w/ the spirit, I do not understand why I'm feeling so empty inside again.

I've been praying for a friend of mine to become a Christian. I wonder for those who aren't aware of Christianity meaning, they don't even think twice about it, would they feel the emptiness too?

I'm wondering if I'm feeling this emptiness bc my friend is feeling emptiness inside of him too?!? Is that even possible?!? That's the ONLY explanation that I can come up w/ as I am close friends w/ this 1 friend.

Is there any other reason aside from that as to why I'm feeling like this?

 

[1watchman]

There are a few possibilities to explain your feelings:
A. Maybe you are a Christian by profession and not by possession; that is, intellectually acknowledging God and the Bible as seemingly reasonable, but not in a personal relationship with God by His beloved Son --the only Savior of our soul;

B. One who is actually "born again" by receiving the Lord Jesus into their heart and possessing the Holy Spirit, may be leaning on "the arm of flesh" as is said, and not in communion with God and trusting;

C. One might be confused and in the dark about all the "...exceeding great and precious promises of God" for His children, which can be enjoyed by faithful saints who trust Him;

D. One may not be reading the Bible daily to hear God speaking and knowing His mind;

E. Other things may also keep one at a distance from God, but it is God's mind to have communion with His own children if they will allow it.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Watchman listed some good points I'm not disagreeing with. It is also possible I suppose you are having that feeling for your friend's sake. I doubt really that's the case but I don't want to say its impossible.

I've also had times when I felt some distance from God for no reason at all that I could discern. I did check carefully to see if I needed to repent of anything, or for any other reason I could find. I really believe it just happens sometimes, and in my case I found I needed to seek God that much more fervently. I was also told I needed to "walk by faith" and get through those times. They did pass, have lasted different lengths of time, and I could not relate them to sin in my life.

There may be other possible causes as well.

 

[thatforumguy77]

There's also the possibility you are under spiritual attack by the enemy. If you are sharing God's word to another and the enemy feels threatened, he will do everything to dissuade you from such an action. I know this by experience, and I wholly believe in spiritual warfare despite the many people who do not.

Stay strong and persevere until the end, for all your difficulties done in His name will be glorified many times more in the age to come. Cling to Christ and have the faith of a child and you will be well. Will pray for you!

 

[parsley]

It is also possible I suppose you are having that feeling for your friend's sake. I doubt really that's the case but I don't want to say its impossible.

I've also had times when I felt some distance from God for no reason at all that I could discern. I did check carefully to see if I needed to repent of anything, or for any other reason I could find. I really believe it just happens sometimes, and in my case I found I needed to seek God that much more fervently. I was also told I needed to "walk by faith" and get through those times.

There's also the possibility you are under spiritual attack by the enemy.

That has been my experience too. And while A-E is a good list to keep in mind, your past posts show that your heart is really there, and you also have a strong heart for this person's well-being. So you might be sensing something amiss.

Some other things (where are we.. H?)

-- If you have sensed things this friend is going through, you might also be sensing what a broader group of people are going through. Try praying in a yielded way -- letting God come up with more than your rationale can see.

God might be allowing you to sense grief that people have from a troublesome storm, or His own concern over what corrupt people are planning. He can see/hear the schemes of those who are careless or greedy, intent on their own gain. We can pray that God thwarts plans before people are harmed.

-- Our bodies, minds, and spirits are interconnected. Too much gingerbread one day can lead to emotional depression the next. Ups and downs of emotions with parties, getting things right socially, making sure people are happy over their presents.
We also feel hormonal or chemical ups and downs that seem very real in our minds. Adrenaline ups and downs.

-- Preparation for the holidays puts us in scurry mode, and we also need breaks where we allow empty nothingness temporarily.

-- Others might not concur with this one, but I will also bring up a more prophetic realm. In the last few weeks, a lot of people have been having dreams and visions of closure and destruction, Jesus' return and new eras. Anxiety is high over what may come next. Globally, economies are a mess, and natural events have caused many people to lose their homes.

Consider that we might be on the verge of change, where God might be preparing everyone to make a Group Turn. A change in direction.

Your empty feeling reminds me of a strange phenomenon I experience. Sometimes I can sense the sun about to rise -- it's like feeling the sun pop. Maybe caused by a change in air pressure or what the birds are doing, whatever... but it's like a moment of silence, or a birthing. Maybe you were sensing something like that on a larger scale, like the moon's gravity pulling the tides.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

For the last week I guess, I've been feeling down and empty inside. Why?

I haven't "moved away" from God. I still talk to him throughout the day and pray often esp at night normally for a friend of mine.

I don't understand why I'm feeling like this. I know b4 I became a Christian, I felt super empty inside too but, of course now, I understand why but, being that I'm filled w/ the spirit, I do not understand why I'm feeling so empty inside again.

I've been praying for a friend of mine to become a Christian. I wonder for those who aren't aware of Christianity meaning, they don't even think twice about it, would they feel the emptiness too?

I'm wondering if I'm feeling this emptiness bc my friend is feeling emptiness inside of him too?!? Is that even possible?!? That's the ONLY explanation that I can come up w/ as I am close friends w/ this 1 friend.

Is there any other reason aside from that as to why I'm feeling like this?

Joh 14:1 KJV
(1) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

as a reborn believer, you can control your emotions - build yourself up in God's promises toward you and you'll change those empty feelings into peace and joy.

and remember that God is more motivated to see people come to salvation than everyone else combined - you don't need to ask Him to do something He's already motivated to do . the prayer of faith for someone else's salvation is along the lines of 'thank You Father that You are not the holdup; i make myself available to speak your gospel to this person'. and when they weigh heavy on your heart, bind the devil to stop him from hindering God's word in the other person (this will only work until they yield to the devil again, so 'spend it carefully' so that you aren't binding the devil more than you are talking to God )

 

[DiceRider]

You maybe have strong empathy for him, if they are on your heart and you feel this strongly, God may be showing you what to pray for.. but I dont know, just wanted to send a clumsy cyber hug. Emptiness has been a companion on and off for years to me so I know the dark company it brings x

 

[sk8brdkd]

There are a few possibilities to explain your feelings:
A. Maybe you are a Christian by profession and not by possession; that is, intellectually acknowledging God and the Bible as seemingly reasonable, but not in a personal relationship with God by His beloved Son --the only Savior of our soul;

B. One who is actually "born again" by receiving the Lord Jesus into their heart and possessing the Holy Spirit, may be leaning on "the arm of flesh" as is said, and not in communion with God and trusting;

C. One might be confused and in the dark about all the "...exceeding great and precious promises of God" for His children, which can be enjoyed by faithful saints who trust Him;

D. One may not be reading the Bible daily to hear God speaking and knowing His mind;

E. Other things may also keep one at a distance from God, but it is God's mind to have communion with His own children if they will allow it.

I'd say probably C&D --- but, idk.

 

[sk8brdkd]

There's also the possibility you are under spiritual attack by the enemy. If you are sharing God's word to another and the enemy feels threatened, he will do everything to dissuade you from such an action. I know this by experience, and I wholly believe in spiritual warfare despite the many people who do not.

Stay strong and persevere until the end, for all your difficulties done in His name will be glorified many times more in the age to come. Cling to Christ and have the faith of a child and you will be well. Will pray for you!

i'm not actually sharing God's word w/ others. I'm praying for salvation for others and asking God for an opportunity to open up to them --- for them to be ready to hear and be open but, that hasn't happened yet.

 

[Inkachu]

IMO you're putting way too much emphasis and focus on how you feel. You need to immerse yourself back into the Word, and meditate on the truths there; God's promises and His truth don't waver according to our feelings or emotions. Nobody is going to feel awesome ALL the time, every moment, until they die. Life is a series of up's and down's; being a Christian means learning to ride the waves without becoming a victim of our fickle emotions, but instead holding onto the steadiness of our faith in the midst of the emotional high's and low's. So it's not that you deny the fact that you feel stuff; you just don't allow the emotions to determine where you stand and how you live. Try reciting some empowering, encouraging Scriptures every morning. If there's a verse that is especially meaningful to you, say it to yourself throughout the day, with a short prayer for God to guide you through whatever this funk is that you're currently in.

 

[sk8brdkd]

That has been my experience too. And while A-E is a good list to keep in mind, your past posts show that your heart is really there, and you also have a strong heart for this person's well-being. So you might be sensing something amiss.

Some other things (where are we.. H?)

-- If you have sensed things this friend is going through, you might also be sensing what a broader group of people are going through. Try praying in a yielded way -- letting God come up with more than your rationale can see.

God might be allowing you to sense grief that people have from a troublesome storm, or His own concern over what corrupt people are planning. He can see/hear the schemes of those who are careless or greedy, intent on their own gain. We can pray that God thwarts plans before people are harmed.

-- Our bodies, minds, and spirits are interconnected. Too much gingerbread one day can lead to emotional depression the next. Ups and downs of emotions with parties, getting things right socially, making sure people are happy over their presents.
We also feel hormonal or chemical ups and downs that seem very real in our minds. Adrenaline ups and downs.

-- Preparation for the holidays puts us in scurry mode, and we also need breaks where we allow empty nothingness temporarily.

-- Others might not concur with this one, but I will also bring up a more prophetic realm. In the last few weeks, a lot of people have been having dreams and visions of closure and destruction, Jesus' return and new eras. Anxiety is high over what may come next. Globally, economies are a mess, and natural events have caused many people to lose their homes.

Consider that we might be on the verge of change, where God might be preparing everyone to make a Group Turn. A change in direction.

Your empty feeling reminds me of a strange phenomenon I experience. Sometimes I can sense the sun about to rise -- it's like feeling the sun pop. Maybe caused by a change in air pressure or what the birds are doing, whatever... but it's like a moment of silence, or a birthing. Maybe you were sensing something like that on a larger scale, like the moon's gravity pulling the tides.

I do have a strong heart for my friend's well being. However, I think there's another side of this that came across my mind this morning in bed. This morning, I was feeling nervous and "unattached" --- thinking about this friend wanting to be w/ him and spend time w/ him. Haven't hung out w/ him in a little while and am missing him so, now, i'm also wondering if this emptiness has anything to do w/ just wanting to spend time w/ this friend and be w/ him. I'm assuming that could be possible too?

I've never thought about sensing things others are going thru besides this 1 friend. Though, I had only sensed or, lets say, believe i sensed what this friend was going thru twice and the last time that happened was probably 3-4 months ago.

I am usually down emotionally in the winter bc i can't go outside n do stuff and am stuck indoors most of the day, everyday meaning i'm stuck w/ my parents all of the time n for me, it's too much to handle so, in general during the winter months, my mood is lower then normal. But, being w/ this friend, my mood is usually raised up nicely and am at peace.

 

[Ellwood3]

There's also the possibility you are under spiritual attack by the enemy. If you are sharing God's word to another and the enemy feels threatened, he will do everything to dissuade you from such an action. I know this by experience, and I wholly believe in spiritual warfare despite the many people who do not.

Stay strong and persevere until the end, for all your difficulties done in His name will be glorified many times more in the age to come. Cling to Christ and have the faith of a child and you will be well. Will pray for you!

(Boldfaced emphasis is mine)

It could be the enemy. It could be a bit of seasonal affective disorder (too little sunlight).

In general, I'd say don't focus on feelings, focus on the truth of God's character.