Have you ever gone to the grocery on an empty stomach? You’re a sitting duck when you do. You buy everything you don’t need. Doesn’t matter if it’s good for you, you just want to fill your tummy!
When you’re lonely, you do the same in life, pulling stuff off the shelf, not because you need it, but because you’re hungry for love. Why do we do it? Because we fear facing life alone. For fear of not fitting in, we take the drugs. For fear of standing out, we wear the clothes. For fear of appearing small, we go into debt and buy the house. For fear of sleeping alone, we sleep with anyone. For fear of not being loved, we search for love in all the wrong places.
But all that changes when we discover God’s perfect love.
1 John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casts out fear.” You are not alone!
Traveling Light, Max Lucado
I was reading the book “Traveling Light” a few weeks ago. It has been a repeat book for me because of the nuggets of truth I get when I feel burdened with things in my life. When I came across Max’s devotional tonight, it reminded me once again that God has a way of filling every desire I have or will ever have.
John 4:13-14 “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Our world has a lot to offer. It even has a lot that can bring joy to our lives. I am grateful for that. Although, I am more grateful to have the Lord as my “eternal well” that never runs dry. That is always abundant, overflowing, perfect, and joyful.
I am not sure why I still search for things that can’t be abundant, overflowing, perfect, and joyful. I guess it’s because I crave immediate gratification. I crave things more tangible. I forget that just because I cannot see God, does not mean that He is not with me. I long for things that will fill my cup temporally, but at times not care if it has a slow leak.
“For I do not do the good I want to do., but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.” - Romans 7:19
As I watched the screening of the “Apostle Paul” the other night, I again was reminded that in my weakness or silly illusions, that I try to scoop water from the sea with my hands. I will attempt to bring it past my heart, but it has already seeped through my fingers when I try. So what do I do? I try it again because the sea is huge. What do I do? I try harder. I go faster. I get mad. I will even try and cup my hands so tightly together on the things I want that I will tell myself there is no way it’s getting out. Guess what? It always leaks out when I bring it up. So the endless cycle continues. I think God designed it to be impossible. I feel God designed for us to rely on His hands to touch our heart. Each day we have a choice. Eternal Christ or Eternal Self. I do not want to fear the things of this world as Mr. Lucado mentioned.
Today, I am choosing the “spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Today I am choosing to use the hands of the Living God to fill me up. I hope you will too.