Devotion: A God-Size Hole?
Please take the time to read Matthew 5:1-11, 7:24-29
A God-sized hole? In my heart? In Pastor Greg’s sermon last Sunday, he stated that our God-sized hole in our hearts can never be filled. Our hardships and struggles motivate us to search and seek God’s love. Unfortunately, in today’s culture, we try to take away that God-sized hole. We pick up our handheld devices and numb ourselves and distract ourselves from our challenges. We fill it with “stuff”.
The Beatitudes give us the instructions to follow. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”… Being connected in community and connected to others through close relationships helps to fill our hearts, not some handheld advice.
As a Teammates Mentor, when my former Teammate graduated, I asked for a student who really needed someone. I was paired with a quiet fourth-grade student who had trust issues and suffered from depression. She was frequently absent from school. Eventually, she became a ward of the court because of her truancy issues. Her freshman year found her struggling and missing school, which led to the court assigning her to Boys Town. For 3 1/2 years I drove to Omaha to see her twice a month. I promised her that I would not abandon her.
Upon arriving at Boys Town, cell phones are immediately taken away. After that, their family life counselors at their house of eight girls go to work to gain their trust and provide stability in a loving family environment. They do everything together from eating and preparing meals, reading devotions, studying, buying groceries, going to events together, and walking to school together. They never leave the family room when they are home until it is bedtime.
They have their problems but they work through them as a family. The girls learn to talk to and support each other. They laugh, pray, and cry together. I’ve been blessed to share meals with them, attend church services, and celebrate birthdays and graduations. It is a joy-filled atmosphere, free of cell phones. They have felt the love of the Sheridan community each December when we’ve invited them to our annual Christmas Cantata.
It’s been several years and my Teammate is now living in Atlanta but we still stay in touch with each other. We have a bond that cannot be broken.
We are blessed when we have this God-sized hole for it is then that we hunger and thirst for the love of God in community and connections with our neighbor. Fill that hole the right way with God’s love. In our church’s mission statement, we say, ”We are a community of Christ’s faithful followers…” Let us be in community!
Good and Gracious God,
Thank you for our God-sized holes that cause us to hunger and thirst for you. Help us to examine our old habits of relying on our cell phones to fill us up. May we persistently lean on you for spiritual riches and build on our connections with others. Calm our hearts so we may have quiet times with you. Guide us to choose wisely the appropriate balance of use of our cell phones. Amen
Written by Janece Nelson
Janece and husband, Mike, have been members of Sheridan for more than twelve years. Janece is a retired mathematics instructor teaching at the middle school and college level. They are blessed with two children and three grandchildren. Janece finds her greatest joy in spending time with her family and friends. Her passion is writing devotions for patients in hospitals and rehabs she sees every Monday as a Sheridan hospital visitor. As a Teammate she also mentors girls at Boys Town. Janece credits Faith Builders and Companions in Christ for her spiritual growth.