What to remember when life feels formless and empty...

Genesis 1:1–2 — “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

There are days where it feels like life has lost its form and is no doubt empty. Sometimes it even feels like the lights have been turned off. It's dark, and you cannot even see your hand in front of you. Ever been there?

We all have days like this, some more often than others. If you’re human, you’ve had a bad day, maybe even a bad season. And if you're really honest, there are moments where it feels like God has completely turned off the lights and stepped away.

I wonder if you can relate?

If so, here are three things to remember in the dark...

1. Feelings are real, but they’re not the driver.

Feelings should not be ignored, but they also shouldn’t be allowed to drive. God gave us emotions, but they were never meant to dictate every step we take.

Whether your feelings are fear-filled or fantastic, you don’t have to follow them with eyes of fear. You can move forward with eyes of faith. Why? Because we have God’s love story to us as a foundation. Scripture (The Bible) reminds us that God is ever-present, unchanging, and always at work, giving us a stable footing when life feels uncertain. It is a pretty consistent theme that God is pursuing us with a pretty ambitious pace.

We also have the support of God’s family, other friends in faith who encourage, love, and help us along the way. Don’t dismiss your feelings, but let them point you toward the deeper source of strength and stability that only God provides.

2. There is a bigger story at work.

The opening verses of the Bible remind us of a profound truth: God is not absent in darkness.

In Genesis, the earth was formless, empty, and dark, yet the Spirit of God was hovering, preparing to do something spectacular. This reveals that even when things look bleak, God is actively at work, orchestrating something bigger and better than we can see.

Whatever is going on in your world, don’t forget that your story is part of a much larger story. And if that’s true, isn’t it worth exploring what God might be up to?

3. God loves to intersect stories.

It’s just the way God rolls. God delights in taking ordinary lives and intersecting them with His extraordinary presence. When that happens, light breaks into darkness and new life springs forth.

We see this not only in Genesis but in countless stories throughout the Bible. God showing up, transforming, and taking back what belongs to Him. And, He still works that way today.

If He did it for them, why not for you? Why not give God space to intersect with your story?

Final thought. Leaning into these truths takes time, vision, and grace. It doesn't happen overnight. Honestly, it’s nearly impossible to handle on our own. What would that next best step look like for you?

I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion… I want all that God has or I don’t want any.” — A. W. Tozer, pastor and author.

Prayer: God, help me see that You are here right now. Give me eyes to notice what You’re up to, in the world, in my day, and in my life. Help me to see that you're at work, even when it seems like the lights are off.