Satisfied

We humans sure are complicated. We set goals and work hard to achieve them but in some cases our hopes and dreams are meant to be just that - unobtainable.

We yearn for things we don’t have or think we want. But when we get them, we realize those things aren’t what we really wanted and certainly don’t make the grass greener on the other side. Sometimes when we get to that new pasture, we find out the grass actually was greener where we started.

In some ways, I think yearning for what we don’t have is a good thing. It gives us hope and keeps us going in difficult times. If it becomes an all-consuming obsession though, watch out for the direct consequences. Yearning can go bad when it leads people to crime. It can also be good by incentivizing them to work extra hours to get what they desire.

I believe yearnings and desires are built into humans to give them hope for the future. Remember when we were kids and wanting something so badly and waiting all year to hopefully get our wishes fulfilled at Christmas? Or when we put in lots of extra work for a dreamed-of family vacation?

The alternative is pretty dark: having nothing to look forward to is a terrible state to be in. As a Christian, I yearn to be in the presence of God and Jesus and I love that, both because of the hope it gives me and because I always have something to look forward to. I may falter or sin but what keeps me going is that amazing pay off in the end. When you yearn for something with all your heart, you have to keep your eye on the prize and keep pushing forward no matter what life throws your way. Psalm 119:10 “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”

This is Will B saying, keep Jesus in your heart at all times and let’s yearn for a time when we will be with God.