The Day Emptiness Lost its Job

Well, hush my mouth and pass the hot, buttered cornbread on over here, junebug. Come on up on this here porch and sit for a lil’ a spell ‘cause we’re about to mosey on through one of the most jaw‑droppin, heart‑liftin’ moments in the whole Bible.

When the sun was barely peeking over the hills and the rooster was still ‘a-tryin’ to remember his own name, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary headed to Jesus’ tomb” (Matthew 28:1-2). I picture them ‘a-walkin’ soft as a pair of church ladies ‘a-sneakin’ past a napping deacon. Then, suddenly the ground shook like an angry bull ‘a-stompin’ in a rodeo ring, and an angel showed up ‘a-shinin’ brighter than a fresh‑washed tractor. He told them, “Don’t be afraid. Jesus ain’t here. He has done risen just like He said” (Matthew 28:6).

Now bless those disciples’ lil’ ol’ hearts, for three days they was sadder than an ol’ hound dog that was done left ‘a-hangin’ out in the rain. They didn’t know Sunday was ‘a-comin’. They didn’t know that tomb was gonna soon be emptier than a feed trough after a hungry hog done got into it.

And maybe you’ve done had a season just like that. A time when your heart done felt like an old holler stump in the woods. You think, “Lord, I cannot take one more day of this.” Even the squirrels look at you like they’re ‘a-prayin’ for you.

But here’s the real truth. That there empty feelin’ is one of them there God‑shaped spaces. Tryin’ to fill it with anything else is like ‘a-tryin’ to saddle an alley cat. It just won’t work. Jesus done died to fill that there space. And accordin’ to Matthew 28, He done rose again to give you real hope that this here life is not the end of this here story. His resurrection hollers louder than a barnyard rooster high on caffeine that he’s spectin’ that the best is yet to come.

If you haven’t surrendered your life to Him, today is a mighty fine day to get it done. Let the Lord fill that there empty place in your soul. After all, friend, He is hope itself.

Lord Jesus, thank You for risin’ again and ‘a-bringin’ hope to the places inside us that feel ‘a-mite emptier than a hen house after a fox done slipped through. Come an’ be ‘a-fillin’ our hearts, ‘a-steadyin’ our steps, and ‘a-remindin’ us that because You live, we can be ‘a-facin’ whatever might be ‘a-comin’. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Well land sakes alive, bug, that’s about all the porch‑ponderin’ we can cram into one sittin’. Now before you hop on off this here porch like a rabbit that just spotted a garden full of lettuce, let me be remindin’ you of somethin ‘real sweet from Romans 15:13, where it says that “the God of hope Himself wants to fill you with joy and peace as you trust Him.” And that ain’t just fancy talk. That’s Him ‘a-sayin’, ‘I didn’t rise from that there grave so you could be ‘a-walkin’ around ‘a-feelin’ emptier than a busted gourd. No, sir, when we go to seekin’ Him and ‘a-lettin’ Him into that there empty spot we’re ‘a-tryin’ to hide, He fills it right up better’n sweet tea fills up a big ol’ Mason jar on a real hot July afternoon.

With joy,

Gwen