Are You Searching for Meaning?
Have you ever found yourself asking questions like, “Life has no meaning, so why even bother?” or “How can we know anything for certain?” Maybe you’ve made statements like, “Right and wrong are just opinions; there’s no universal standard,” or “All governments are corrupt and should be dismantled.”
If so, you’re not alone. These thoughts and feelings are common in today’s world. Maybe you feel lost or apathetic, believe nothing matters, or find yourself rebelling against norms and systems, leading to chaos or personal isolation.
Let me pause and ask: Are you there now? Do you want a way out? If a commercial came on promising a solution to these feelings, would you take it?
I’m not here to sell you anything. In fact, I hate sales. Ironically, I worked in sales for years, but the only time I felt confident was when I truly believed in what I was offering and knew it could help someone. That’s rare in a world where everyone seems to be selling something they don’t even use. It’s hard to trust anyone these days.
But if you’re still reading, let’s continue.
The Void We All Feel
Feelings of hopelessness, despair, apathy—or even rebellion—often stem from a void inside us. We try to fill it with things like acceptance, wealth, success, pleasure, health, or experiences. We ride emotional waves, chasing temporary highs, only to crash on the other side.
Maybe you’ve been there: you plan the perfect vacation, but it turns into a nightmare. (For me, it was a spider-infested Airbnb—truly the stuff of Arachnophobia. I hate spiders!) Or you finally buy that dream car, only to see a newer model on your neighbor’s driveway. You post pictures online, hoping for likes to validate your pursuit of happiness, but the feeling is fleeting. Soon, you’re chasing the next thing. It’s an exhausting cycle.
We end up on a seesaw of extreme highs and lows, sometimes labeled as bipolar or depressed. Does any of this sound familiar? I’ve been there too.
The Pursuit of Solutions
Like many, I tried to solve my symptoms.
For health, I went down endless rabbit holes—becoming vegetarian, reading books like How Not to Die and Life Force, obsessing over food conspiracies, high-pH water, and organic everything. While I saw some results, the stress of controlling every calorie and ingredient became overwhelming. And no amount of clean eating can prevent a freak accident.
For wealth, I dove into financial education, learning about passive income, LLCs, trusts, and the supposed lies about savings and 401(k)s. It was maddening. After years of saving, you might realize retirement doesn’t look like you imagined—or that health insurance becomes your biggest expense.
For success, I climbed the corporate ladder. I worked extra hours, took my laptop on vacation, and sacrificed family time. Once, I even told my wife to knock over a boogie board on the beach if a client called me back. I lasted ten minutes in the ocean before rushing back to my phone.
The result? Burnout. Strained relationships. Isolation. I even turned to alcohol, numbing myself to avoid facing reality.
But no matter what I chased—money, health, success, possessions—it was never enough. And that’s the point: nothing can fill the void.
The Truth About Our Pursuits
Whatever we pursue above all else becomes our idol. It could be a career, possessions, even our kids. We hoard these things, raise our standards of living, and trap ourselves in a cycle of busyness. We justify it with phrases like “I deserve this” or “I need this.” Before long, we’re imprisoned by the very things we once begged for.
At some point, we burn out. Relationships fall apart. Life feels empty. For me, it took hitting rock bottom—standing in front of a mirror, intoxicated, thinking there was no way out.
But there is a way out.
The Solution: Finding True Purpose
Here’s the truth: we were created with purpose, in the image of a Creator. That means the void inside us can only be filled by Him.
Maybe you’re skeptical, but deep down, you know it’s true. God wrote it into our very being. The Bible says He has made Himself known to everyone. Yet, we harden our hearts, brick by brick, choosing to ignore Him. Over time, we become blind—not physically, but spiritually—unable to see how God is working in and around us.
I was there once, too. But now, I’m a different person. I’ve gone from despair to joy, from numbness to peace. I still have good days and bad, but I’m no longer tossed around by life’s highs and lows. I’m anchored in my faith.
What About You?
If you’ve made it this far, are you ready for a change?
The answer isn’t found in self-help books or temporary fixes. It’s found in surrendering to God. It means saying, “God, I’ve tried my way, and it didn’t work. I’m sorry for not trusting You. I need Your help. Please lead me. I want Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.”
When you let God lead your life, He transforms you from the inside out. No matter what you’ve done or where you are, He loves you. He’s ready to fill the void and give you true purpose and peace.
The question is, will you let Him?