“Commit
to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs
16:3 (NIV)

Have you ever tried to fill the
empty places in your soul with people, possessions or positions? I have. And,
I’ve learned it doesn’t work. In my search for answers to life, I ended up on a
dead-end road, wondering how in the world I was going to find my way back.

Focused on my job and my accomplishments,
I thought it would lead me to the answers. Then, I began to ask myself, “What
is the question?” What is it we search for so elusively, spending all of our
time, treasures and talent, only to end up with a heart full of emptiness?

At
the beginning of a new year, the gyms are filled with people trying to lose
weight and get healthy. We make resolutions. I’m going to lose enough to get
back into my high school clothes. I want to be able to attend my 20, 30, or 40-year
high school reunion looking as good as the day I walked across the stage to get
my diploma. Wanting to be healthy is great and doing it for the right reasons
leads to success while accepting our aging bodies will never look the same as
our 18-year-old self. It is better to focus on our inner life and not so much
on the container.

A recent newspaper headline,
“Suicide cases rise to 88 in Tulsa,” drew my attention. According to the article,
the oldest victim was 84 and the youngest was 16.Experts believe
that a slow economy and job instability might be to blame, but no one knows for
sure.

Growing up, most of us have
a plan for our lives. Whether it leads to further education after high school,
a fulfilling job, marriage and children, a nice house and a new automobile, we
have dreams of a good life. I did. However, our dreams don’t always become
reality, especially when our focus is on those things that do not fulfill our
inner person.

I can relate to those who
are so desperate to end their lives. I have been there. However, God had a plan
for my life, just as He has a plan for yours. We think life will be perfect
when we achieve the “good” things in life. However, when we come to realize,
like the author of Ecclesiastes, “that all toil and all achievement spring from
one person’s envy of another,” we can find that one thing that can satisfy
forever our thirst for inner peace. If we do not, our life is meaningless, “a
chasing after the wind.”

Do you feel hollow inside? Is
something lacking in your life? Going through the motions of life, even
faithfully attending church every Sunday, isn’t the answer. The answer is
Jesus. He is the only One who can fill that hole inside of us. No possession,
person or position can do that. He is the way, the truth and the life.

Have you found the answer?

Respond to the author at carolaround@yahoo.com and be sure to
check out her blog at www.carolaround.com
for more inspiration.

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About Carol Round

I have been writing stories, poetry
and essays since I was first able to hold a pencil. Although I have been a freelance
writer for more than 25 years, I turned my passion for writing into a full-time
career after retiring in 2005 from a northeastern Oklahoma public school
system. My passion is using my writing
to inspire others.

I have written articles for national
magazines, like Western Horseman, American Profileand Mature Years. My essays have appeared in
“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,”“Hometown
Heroes”and “Raging Gracefully.”

“A Matter of Faith,” my self-syndicated column,
is currently running in 12 Oklahoma newspapers and two collections of my
columns are also available in book form. Carol’s latest book, “Journaling with
Jesus: How to draw closer to God,” was just released and can be purchased at http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000522049/Journaling-with-Jesus.aspx
or at www.journalingwithjesus.com.

I always love hearing from my
readers and I especially welcome hearing about how God has worked or is working
in your life. Readers may contact me at carolaround@yahoo.com or check out
my blog at www.carolaround.com
to purchase copies of my books and read more inspirational thoughts.

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