Mara sat on her couch, staring at the ceiling. The emptiness in her heart seemed as vast and hollow as the room she lived in. The world around her hummed with activity, yet she felt utterly invisible. No husband. No children. A dead-end job in a gray cubicle. Friends had faded with time, leaving her with no one to share life’s moments. At 42, she was convinced her life was meaningless—a string of empty days tied together by nothingness.The gnawing ache in her chest was relentless. One afternoon, as she aimlessly scrolled through her phone, she came across a local community church offering a women’s Bible study. “No one’s going to care if I’m there or not,” she muttered. But curiosity—and desperation—nudged her.That Thursday evening, Mara sat quietly at the edge of a circle of women. They laughed, shared stories, and seemed so alive. Mara felt out of place, an outsider looking in. The leader, an older woman named Helen, opened a Bible and read aloud: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10, NIV)
The words were like a crack of thunder in Mara’s soul. Life to the full? How? The discussion that followed centered on Jesus giving purpose and joy in the midst of any circumstance. Mara couldn’t stop the tears that trickled down her cheeks. Helen noticed and gently asked, “Mara, would you like to talk about this later?” She nodded.
That night, after everyone had left, Mara stayed. Sitting with Helen in the quiet sanctuary, she poured out her heart—the loneliness, the shame, the feeling that her life had no value. Helen listened patiently and then shared her own story of finding Jesus after years of bitterness and loss. “Mara,” Helen said softly, “your life isn’t empty. It’s just waiting to be filled by Him.”
Helen explained how Jesus had died for Mara, not just to save her but to give her a new life filled with purpose. Together, they prayed, and for the first time in years, Mara felt a glimmer of hope.The transformation didn’t happen overnight, but it began the moment Mara surrendered her heart to Christ. She started attending church regularly and immersing herself in God’s Word. One verse, in particular, seemed to leap off the page every time she read it:
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10, NIV)
Mara had no idea what her gifts were, but she was determined to find out. She joined the church’s outreach team, which provided meals and care packages to families in need. At first, she felt inadequate. What could she possibly offer? But over time, she discovered a natural knack for organizing and planning. Soon, she was coordinating events, leading initiatives, and mentoring younger volunteers.
As she gave more of herself, the emptiness she once felt began to fade. In its place grew a deep sense of joy and fulfillment. Mara found herself laughing again, making friends, and even mentoring women who were struggling, just as she had been.Years later, as she stood in the kitchen preparing a meal for the church’s annual Thanksgiving outreach, a young woman approached her and said, “Mara, I don’t know how you do it. You’re always so joyful and full of life. I want to be like you.”
Mara paused, tears welling in her eyes. “You know,” she said with a smile, “I used to think my life was the most empty and useless thing in the world. But God didn’t leave me there. He filled me with His love, gave me purpose, and showed me how to serve others. Everything you see in me—it’s Him.
”That night, as she sat by the fire, Mara whispered a prayer of gratitude: “Lord, thank You for taking my brokenness and turning it into something beautiful. Thank You for showing me that true fullness comes not from what I have, but from what I give.”For the first time in her life, Mara was overwhelmed—not with emptiness, but with gratitude to the God who had given her a life she never thought possible.
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
