DAY 3 — What Filled the Void? The Danger of an Empty Heart | When God Stops Speaking: Understanding Spiritual Silence

Family, today we’re stepping into a sobering truth: when God steps back, something else always steps forward. 

It’s much like last week’s study. If it is not the Holy Spirit operating in us through the fruit of love, joy, peace etc, it is the enemy, the devil, evil spirits.

So as I said earlier, when God steps back something else always steps in.

There is no such thing as a spiritually neutral heart. We are always being filled — either by the Spirit of God… or by other influences that rush into the empty spaces we leave unguarded. That’s a fact we have to come to grips with.

Our anchor scripture today is 1 Samuel 16:15 (NKJV): “And Saul’s servants said to him, ‘Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.’”

Now, Family — remember our journey so far.

In Day 1, we talked about spiritual silence: how partial obedience slowly dulls our sensitivity.

In Day 2, we talked about recognizing the signs of the Holy Spirit pulling away — not abandoning us, but showing us where our hearts need realignment.

But today… today we look at what happened after the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.

Because the truth is this: When God’s influence weakens in our lives, something else will always fill the vacuum.

This is what Jesus teaches and we believe it, correct.?

Matthew 12:43–45 (NKJV): “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest… Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’… Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself… and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

That is exactly what we see with Saul.

The Spirit left. A vacancy formed. Another spirit came.

But before we rush to judge Saul, let’s apply this to our personal lives and how we deal with people, let’s walk gently through this — because every one of us has had seasons where our hearts were vulnerable, empty in certain areas, or wide open to influences we didn’t even realize were shaping us.

Let me take you to a less-talked about Bible figure who lived this reality: Rehoboam, Solomon’s son.

2 Chronicles 12:1 (NKJV) says: “Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.”

Rehoboam didn’t rebel loudly. He drifted silently. He became strong in himself… and weak in his sensitivity to God.

And when he drifted, the nation drifted. An empty heart didn’t just affect him — it influenced everyone attached to him.

Family, that’s the danger of a void. It is never personal. It spills into relationships… families… environments… decisions… attitudes… and even spiritual atmospheres - churches, ministries.

Think of everyday life: Have you ever stopped praying the way you used to, just slightly — and soon your patience thins?

Or you stop journaling or reflecting — and soon your clarity disappears?

Or you get so busy that worship becomes background noise instead of a sacred space — and suddenly you feel irritable, distracted, or spiritually numb?

What happened? A small space opened. A vacancy formed. And something else slid in there without our permission.

Sometimes it’s worry. Sometimes it’s old habits. Sometimes it’s offense. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s voices that are familiar, but not Spirit-led. Sometimes it’s people who mean well, but pull us off track.

This is why we never play with empty space.

Family, emptiness attracts influence.

One of the most overlooked stories that illustrates this is the man in 2 Kings 17 — part of a mixed group left behind after Israel’s exile. 

They tried to fear God, but also kept their old practices. Their hearts were divided, and the land became filled with confusion and spiritual conflict. They feared the Lord… but served their idols.

In other words: They had enough God to feel religious… but not enough God to be transformed. Ooohhhhh…

Their hearts were not fully occupied — and the void opened the door to contradiction.

Just like Saul. Just like Rehoboam. Just like us, when we step just far enough from intimacy to let something else slip in unnoticed.

Family, here’s the truth: The Holy Spirit doesn’t compete for space — He fills what we surrender.

And the enemy doesn’t wait for an invitation — He fills what we leave empty.

This is why Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV): “Be filled with the Spirit.” Not “be touched.” Not “be inspired once.” Not “be filled monthly.” But continually filled — because life has a way of draining us, pulling at us, wearing us down, and creating pockets of emptiness that must be refilled before something else takes 0ver.

So what do we do when we realize our heart has a void?

We don’t panic. We don’t condemn ourselves. We don’t pretend we’re stronger than we are. We do what the prophets and psalmists did — we return. We seek. We refill. We occupy the empty spaces with worship… with truth… with stillness… with God’s presence.

Because Family, an empty heart is dangerous. But a surrendered heart is powerful. And a filled heart is unstoppable.

So wWhatever space we don’t intentionally give to God will be unintentionally given to something else.

But there is good news. No matter what has filled the void, no matter how long the drift has lasted, no matter how faint His presence may feel…God is willing, ready, and eager to fill us again. Fully. Completely. Beautifully.

Tomorrow — in Day 4 — we will see what shifted Saul’s atmosphere and why worship still drives out darkness today.