Dear Believer,
Have you ever watched a documentary of a perfectly happy family only to find out there were dark secrets that led to a terrible and dramatic tragedy by the end of the episode? During the course of the episode, we find there was some kind of dissatisfaction that led to the “fixing” of that need in a downward spiral of bad choices that led to the tragedy. Of course, these are extreme scenarios. Most of us choose healthier ways of dealing with unmet needs.
But in our humanity, we share that thread of sin and brokenness. We may not see or understand others’ deep needs, hurts, and insufficiencies; but we all have them. Some of us are just better at hiding them. Some live in denial and blame. We feel lacking in some way. We feel discontent. We look at others and wish we had what we lack and they seem to have. They may be looking at you and wishing the same thing. But we also share the desire for perfection. The ideal image, marriage, family, and life. In our soul, we know we were made to desire full and complete satisfaction. Yet, because of the infiltration of sin in every area of the human experience, we can never achieve it. In the words of the Rolling Stones,
“I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no
I can’t get no satisfaction, no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction”
And so it goes. From the beginning of human history, we are creatures of a lacking nature. Leah lacked the love of her husband, Jacob. Naomi lacked joy from grieving a terrible loss. Hannah lacked a child. Solomon lacked wisdom. Paul lacked healing from a particular chronic condition (aka thorn in his side). Can you relate to any of these? Can you relate to the frustration, bitterness, pain, tears, and even anger these deficiencies bring? However, if we look into these few Biblical examples, we see that these deprivations brought them to the LORD. Perhaps, like the above lyrics, they tried and tried, to no avail. Until they drew near to the LORD, they were able to receive what they needed. Not necessarily what they wanted, but what they needed.
Leah, may not have received the love of her earthly husband but praised the LORD as her heavenly husband at the birth of her fourth son, Judah (Gen.29:35).
Naomi may not have received her husband and sons back from the dead, but she was blessed by the LORD with a redeemer, a restorer of life, nourisher of her old age, and a daughter-in-law who was more than seven sons (Ruth 4:14-15).
Hannah’s pain caused her to “pour out all the anxiety and vexation that was in her soul before the LORD” (1 Sam. 1:15-16). In her gratitude to the Lord for answering her prayer, she gave her child back to His service and magnified the LORD in prophetic prayer (2:1-10).
Solomon humbly recognized his inadequate ability to govern God’s people and the pressure of following in his father’s footsteps. His prayer for wisdom brought the nation of Israel the peace and abundance God was pleased to provide. (1 Kings 3:7-9)
Paul’s chronic condition allowed him to continually cling to the LORD and understand fully the grace of God in his life through his weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
These few examples show us that where there is lack, there we will find the LORD. For those of us who have tried, and tried to fill our needs and desires with the solutions of the world, we do find there is no lasting satisfaction. It is only when we have tasted and seen that the LORD is good, that we who seek the LORD lack no good thing (Ps. 34:8-10). So as we traverse this side of heaven, awaiting the perfection of the other side, press into the LORD. That divinely appointed hole in your life is placed there to be filled only and entirely by Him. Paul shared what he had to learn as he encouraged the Philippians, “and my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (4:19). May this encourage you today as well, dear Believer.
May the LORD be with you,
Bianca
