Music Monday: Empty

Empty by Tauren Wells

This song really can show you that you can have seemingly everything the world tells you makes you status worthy but you can still feel empty. Worldly pleasures and comforts are pleasures for but a moment, but it will not buy happiness and purpose.

Tauren Wells’ beautifully written words in this song really can describe this feeling in the world today and can show people there is more to life than gold and riches.

I hope it can speak to you and you give this song a listen.

Beginning of song:

Have you ever noticed that gold

Sparkles in the light but it’s cold

In your hands?

Have you ever filled your cup

Thinking it would feel like enough

But it don’t last?

When you don’t even know what you’re reachin’ for, oh, whoa

It’s the absence that tells you there’s somethin’ more

I love the words he chose to start this haunting, beautiful song: have you ever noticed that gold sparkles but it’s cold in your hands? How true is that and how it is a great and deep analogy to how life can be. Gold is sparkly and beautiful and attractive and everyone seems to want the “gold” and “sparkly” things in this life, but the reality is, those possessions or a sparkly life is not what its cracked up to be. People find out that there is a “coldness” to the fame and the glitter lifestyle. I just love this analogy so much. It also reminds me of the verse, charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised..Charming people and beautiful things are not what lasts in this life time, but fearing the Lord and having true purpose through him is what really lasts and is fulfilling in this life and beyond. I think it is just part of the enemy’s scheme as well, as I mentioned in the previous blog about wanting more. He tells you your cup will feel full if you achieve this or get that or have that person, but it is never enough and no thing or success will ever fill your cup because only Jesus can, but the enemy likes to twist the truth and make us chase after things that won’t last.

Chorus:

You could have it all

You can have the whole world at your feet

Every little thing you think you need

And still feel empty

You could have it all

You could have the best this life can bring

Livin’ everybody else’s dream

And still feel empty

The chorus says it all. I think emptiness or fullness does not depend on how much we have or own in this world. We can feel empty from time to time because that is what it is like being human and not being with God yet. I do believe if you chase after everything this world and culture tells you will fill your cup, it will remain empty and you will feel empty like something is missing. But to truly feel fulfilled is a life after God. He created us and can fill our cups everyday if we just follow and trust him. We may live in the world, but we do not need to live as the world does, like it says in God’s word.

Next stanza:

When everything you thought was a win

Is turnin’ out to be paper thin

It tears you apart, oh

A shadow that you thought was the light

Won’t keep away the monsters at night

That haunt your heart, oh

It is a crazy revelation when we achieve things in this life that the world tells us will be our greatest successes and wins and yet, they don’t feel as if they would feel. Maybe you got a great job promotion and that title looks real great behind your name and it is everything you thought you wanted, but it does not feel as if it would. The new responsibilities takes more time and you now have less time for what really matters. Or you have a video that goes viral on social media, now you have so many new followers and it is everything you wanted, yet, you are lonelier than ever have been. I think the things that look shiny, do not always end up being the fruit that we desire. I heard a pastor say this on a podcast I was listening to the other day and it was such a chilling statement but so good! He said, Time will only tell if that job promotion was a blessing or a curse. Sometimes, the things that look like achievements in the world, are actually not from God and can actually be from the enemy instead. That gave me goosebumps when he said that. Sometimes when things look shinier, it is not always a blessing. Just something to think about because I thought that was really interesting and rings true a lot.

I think at the end of the day, we can’t look to anything in this world to fulfill us. We have to turn to God. It does not mean we cannot enjoy the blessings He has given us. But, we should not make what the world has told us to chase after to fulfill our heart, as if success or fame will be our everything. We don’t have to pray for more money or followers or fame to be content in life. We have to steward well and be grateful for what God has given us. You can find contentment in any season, because your contentment comes from God, not from this world or the things of this world. Because even if you have everything this world tells us is a success, you can still feel empty. Especially if you do not have God in your heart, that emptiness will be there.

I hope you gleaned something from this song and that it encouraged you to run the race God has set before you and not live as the world thinks or lives but turn to God for him to fill your cup.

I felt like this song paired well with my fighting the “more mindset” post and I know it is a big topic that is brought up in the bible several times and ways. God warns us many times to not love money or having more, but really trusting Him and trusting no matter what your status on earth is, if you follow God and be obedient to Him, your reward in heaven will be greater than any “reward” or money you can have here on earth. I hope and pray we all can trust Him with our lives and pick up our cross and follow him where he leads. Thanks for reading, friend.

All for Jesus,

Steph