February 23
When Success
Feels Empty
“When we were controlled by what our sinful selves wanted, sinful desires worked in us. The law stirred up those desires in us. So the things we did resulted in death.”
— Romans 7:5, NIrV
Archie sat in his car, anger consuming him. The traffic wasn’t moving, and his patience was wearing thin. He’d been up late the night before, binge-watching a show, and now he was running late to work—again. As the minutes ticked by, his irritation boiled over. He pounded the dashboard, cursing under his breath.
“Why does everything have to be so difficult?” he muttered. Life felt like one long cycle of frustration. Work was a grind. Bills piled up. Friends called less often, and when they did, it was usually to ask for something. Archie’s heart had grown hard over the years. He kept people at a distance, rarely giving them the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t have time for faith, prayer, or what he dismissed as “religious nonsense.”
Archie had grown up hearing about God from his grandmother, who used to say, “You’ve got to live for something bigger than yourself, Archie.” But he had pushed those words aside. Life was about doing what made you happy, right? Yet somehow, Archie wasn’t happy. No matter how much he worked or how many things he bought, he felt empty.
One evening, after another frustrating day at work, Archie sat alone in his apartment. The TV was on, but he wasn’t paying attention. His phone buzzed with messages, but he ignored them. He stared at the pile of unopened mail on the counter.
For the first time in years, Archie whispered, “Is this all there is?” The silence in the room was deafening.
He didn’t know why, but he suddenly thought of his grandmother. He remembered her favorite Bible verse, though he hadn’t read a Bible in years. Something stirred in his heart, and he searched for an online Bible. He stumbled across Romans 7:5 and read it slowly.
“When we were controlled by what our sinful selves wanted, sinful desires worked in us. The law stirred up those desires in us. So the things we did resulted in death.”
The words hit Archie like a wave. He realized his frustration wasn’t just about traffic or work—it was about how he had been living. He had been chasing things that couldn’t satisfy his soul. The “death” in the verse wasn’t just physical; it was the lifelessness he felt inside.
That night, Archie prayed for the first time in years. “God, if you’re real, help me. I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”
It wasn’t an immediate fix, but Archie began to notice small changes. He started to listen to his grandmother’s wisdom instead of dismissing it. He reached out to an old friend and apologized for pushing them away. He even found himself looking up local churches, wondering if he could find a place to start over.
Archie’s life didn’t become perfect, but he began to understand that living for himself had only led to emptiness. With God’s help, he was learning to live for something greater.
Prayer:
Thank You for being patient with me, even when I’ve turned away from You.
Like Archie, I’ve chased things that don’t satisfy, and I’ve felt the emptiness that comes with it.
Help me to surrender my selfish desires and trust in Your plan for my life.
Teach me to listen to Your voice, even when I hesitate.
Guide me to live for something greater than myself, and help me see the hope and purpose You’ve prepared for me.
Thank You for loving me, even when I’ve ignored You.
I ask for Your strength and wisdom as I take steps toward a life centered on You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
