The Better Things God Wants for our Blank Spaces
What if we knew God had better things for our blank spaces than we ever imagined?
Better than what the world has to offer. Better than the things we attempt to fill them with.
He does!
We all deal with blank spaces because seasons of life bring loss or lack in areas such as relational, spiritual, mental and emotional.
My story certianly includes blank. Blank spaces nearly succeeded at branding my childhood. They attempted to steal my joy.
And blank often overstayed its welcome and threatened to hold me hostage to the emptiness.
So I used to wonder if the God in heaven received memos from people on earth. One memo in particular from a girl wondering why He allowed her life to have blanks. Why He didn’t give her answers.
Therefore, I grew into a woman who became obsessed for any and every blank to be filled in with something—anything.
Like as a college student it bothered me to leave an unknown answer blank on a test. Even now, whether it’s a class or online training, I frantically search for what goes in the blank.
Or the need for all the lines filled in on my Bible study book. Seeing blank lines with missing answers triggers memories of a life devoid of answers.
Blank Spaces in All Shapes and Sizes
Blank spaces come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common. They are void of the better thing God has for them.
Blank spaces come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common. They are void of the better thing God has for them. Share on XNo respecter of persons, blanks affect us all. Because I don’t know of anyone personally or anyone named in the Bible without blanks for God to fill.
But…what if when we are surrounded by blank spaces, we trust that God is there too? And when the blanks seem greater in number than filled ones, what if we were confident the Lord was at work behind the scenes to bring about our good?
Blank Filled With God and by Him
None of the blanks in our life go unnoticed by our heavenly Father. He sees, knows, cares, and has a plan of action.
There is no barrenness, emptiness or blankness God cannot reach to fill with His goodness or His God-ness. While God may not fill a blank in our life exactly how we wanted, He fills it best and fills it with Himself!
Yet, sometimes our biggest problem is how we forget who our biggest filler is. God doesn’t shy away from our blanks like humans do. He boldly meets us in our need.
The Lord already knows our need and patiently waits for us to ask Him to fill in the blank and invite Him to occupy it.
The Lord already knows our need and patiently waits for us to ask Him to fill in the blank and invite Him to occupy it. Share on XNot a Question of “If” But “When”
There’s no question if God is going to fill our blanks because we belong to Him as children. We just never know how and when. We let God intervene when and how He chooses with better things.
Hindsight is how I’ve learned to entrust God with my blanks. “If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance.” (Google)
Once God fills in a blank, my faith vision grows to sharper clarity. Since I’m now at a distance where I can see God’s faithfulness through the entire process. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Faith Eyes for Blank Spaces
1 Corinthians 2:9b reminds us, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (NLT)
Now, look at Paul’s teaching in the preceding verses.
“My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 & 7 (ESV, emphasis mine)
Will you join me to pray for faith eyes to trust what God has prepared for our blank spaces, and rest in His wisdom to fill them exactly as He sees fit with the better things from Him?
Will you join me to pray for faith eyes to trust what God has prepared for our blank spaces, and rest in His wisdom to fill them exactly as He sees fit with the better things from Him? Share on X
Never lose hope in expecting the higher and better and more complete things God has for your blanks.
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Dear God,
Fill in my blank spaces with things that are pleasing to you & worthy of the Kingdom
Yes, Lord, “worthy of the Kingdom.”
Blank spaces…. How I can relate! Even as a believer, I’ve attempted to stuff the void with… stuff rather than God. But what came to mind was my reckless youth: trying to fill the God-shaped hole with dope, parties, fast cars, faster boys- anything to shut out the disquiet. Even now, I’m frustrated at being forced to slow down and contemplate Him, instead of taking this forced stop as a blessing. Thank you, Karen.
Candace, glad this resonated with you and hope it brought you some encouragement. A “forced stop” as you said can certainly be a blessing in disguise. We just don’t like to wait or have blank that we want filled right now! Never lose hope in expecting the higher and better and more complete things God has for your blanks.
Instead of racing to fill those blank spaces on our own and in our own way, we need to step back and pray that God, in His infinite wisdom, will thoughtfully and meaningfully fill those blanks for us in a way that will make all the difference. Such wonderful thoughts, Karen!
Blessings!
Martha, The Lord is the only One who makes the difference in filling our blank spaces in life. God bless, friend.
An excellent post, Karen. The fact that the Lord surrounds us every single moment of our time on earth, starting in the womb, gives me great peace that I have no blank spaces in my life. I may be sitting in silence. I may be between writing projects. I may be waiting at a stop light. I may be waiting for the birth of a grandchild. Whatever my waiting may be, even if I am completely alone, away from all human contact, the Lord is still with me filling all the blank spaces. Thank you for these reminders today.
Love how you said, “Whatever my waiting may be, even if I am completely alone, away from all human contact, the Lord is still with me filling all the blank spaces.” Beautiful words, Melinda. The Lord already knows our need and patiently waits for us to ask Him to fill in the blank and invite Him to occupy it.
Yet again, I find myself saying, “You’ve done it again Ms. Karen, another that is your best one it!” 🙂 I love the phrase “blank spaces”! I’ve often thought them “black holes” because they seem void of anything good or prosperous for you, and if we dwell within too long we risk not finding our way back out. Am sure glad God always has our hand and doesn’t let go. God’s blessings ma’am.
They do seem void of anything good or what we think we should have or need. If we remember, blank spaces are void of the better thing God has for them. While God may not fill a blank in our life exactly how we wanted, He fills it best and fills it with Himself! God bless!
What a neat message, Karen. I struggled this week to fill in Bible study blanks with answers that were supposed to be in the podcast. It’s a newly identified form of OCD, I suppose. You’re so right that we try to fill in the blanks with whatever is available–not always with what is right. Thanks and God bless!
I relate, Nancy. Clearly a bit of OCD is happening in those instances. If only we realized just anything will never really fill the void of the blank spaces to start with.
I pray for God’s grace to fill those blank spaces in my life. Great reminder Karen.
So do I, Yvonne. And to let Him fill them as only He can.
I think we often fear those blank spaces and fill them with distractions, pleasures, etc. But when we trust God to fill those spaces, His work and will come alive through us.
Love this, Jessica, “But when we trust God to fill those spaces, His work and will come alive through us.” Oh, yes! It’s so much better to wait on the better than to settle for something that will never fill the blank anyway.
In my current season of life, my morning quiet time has become a daily reset in which I yield my desire to fill in my blank spaces. Daily because the illusion of control re-asserts itself daily as well!
Ava, I like how you noted the illusion of control. The Lord reminded me several years ago that I’ve never really had control. Your routine is working. Thanks for sharing!
Trusting in God and knowing He will fill in my blank spaces with ways to share His love and glory. 🙂
Great, Melissa! “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Thank you for blessing us with this.
God bless, Lauren. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9b (NLT)
So beautifully spoken Karen. I love your message, it is filled with insights and overflowing with encouragement for my soul today.
Visiting today from IMM#23
Hey Paula, thanks for visiting and your encouraging comment. There’s no question if God is going to fill our blanks because we belong to Him as children. We just never know how and when. We let God intervene when and how He chooses with better things.
Thank you, dear Karen, for this comforting reminder that God longs to fill the blank spaces in our hearts and lives with Himself and with His good plans for us. Only His will being done will bring Him glory.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Wendy, appreciate you stopping by and commenting. There is no barrenness, emptiness or blankness God cannot reach to fill with His goodness or His God-ness.
Great article! I like the “blank spaces” symbolism, as it feels blank many times in our lives, or in the lives of others. But knowing that God is good, like you pointed out, we must trust there are reasons. It would be nice to know all of those reasons now, but we may not be privy to that information – yet. Someday, I believe that God will show us all we need to know. For now, knowing that God is the very definition of goodness is “good enough” for me.
Thank you, Lisa. Like how you said, “For now, knowing that God is the very definition of goodness is ‘good enough’ for me.” Truth! Because goodness is not only something God does, but also who He is. We can trust His goodness will fill our blank however He deems best.
I have had to change my perspective on “blank spaces.” Instead of viewing them as empty or void, I view them as “hopeful.” Of course, my one word this year is “wait”, so this post spoke to my heart. When I view the blank spaces as those waiting for God to fill, they become spaces filled with hope and prospect of a future. Another wonderful post, Karen!
I like your perspective on “hopeful.” That’s a good thought. Thanks for sharing, Joanne. Glad this encouraged you. I pray for those faith eyes to trust what God has prepared for my blank spaces, and rest in His wisdom to fill them exactly as He sees fit with the better things from Him.
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May we all learn to value those “blank” spaces, surrendering them to the Lord!
Lisa, a great perspective to see them as value and not “less than.”