Despite all the modernity and technological advancements of our generation, we are more aware of our emptiness than ever before. We are all on a search for meaning, and are longing for a deep relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. Where can I find him to come and stand before him?” ~ Psalm 42 : 1 - 2
There’s a fierce yearning in all of us to “live our best lives”. We are the Y.O.L.O - ‘You Only Live Once’ generation. We are craving for more, for purpose, for a fulfilled life.
No one is happy just existing anymore. Jobs and trinkets can’t bring the existence we desire. This has led to all kinds of negative perceptions about millennials - They’re selfish, self-absorbed, can't keep a job for long, ... on and on. I believe it’s a recognition that life is more than our bodies, it’s about the serving of our souls. Being part of something bigger. It’s yearning for our place in creation.
Nothing can satisfy but God. There’s an emptiness that will not allow us to rest until we allow God to take His place. It in keeping with what the bible says will happen, “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2 : 10 - 11). Nothing else will satisfy.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” ~ John 4 : 13 - 14
There has never been a greater time to be alive, and yet there also has never been a sadder time. We carry computers in our pockets, can connect with each other across the globe in a split second, the ability to create wealth is more democratized because of the internet, more of us have opportunities that would have been unimaginable ten or twenty years ago. It’s a different world. Underlying all these opportunities, there has never been a time with greater numbers of discouraged and depressed people. The suicide rates around the world are at an all time high. Despite the ”connectedness” there is such great isolation and loneliness. We live high stress lives, driven by societal queues about what is expected and unattainable. Atrocities are still happening around the world that have a greater negative impact because we know better even if we don’t do better.
The world tells us everything must be good, but the bible tells us the truth; in this world there will be a lot of suffering but take heart, Christ has already overcome. That is what keeps it all in perspective. We can’t live in a vacuum, we must embrace the truth and strive to live according to it. Not that all things will be perfect, but they will be for our good if we align ourselves with the purpose that is greater than us. In Christ we find peace. Do not set aside the only source of peace, Christ. Our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9 : 6).
“I have told you these things , so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16 : 33
We are compelled to post these beautiful picture perfect lives on social media and yet the truth is that life is full of storms. To make it through the storms we have to reach out to Jesus. He alone can make us walk on stormy waters. Like Peter, when we take our eyes off Jesus we begin to drown. We can easily be overwhelmed by life. How wonderful God is, that when we lose our focus, He still reaches out to take hold of us! When we get lost, he comes after us, like the good shepherd who leaves the flock of ninety- nine to find the one sheep that has gotten left behind (Luke 15 : 1 - 7). When life has left us broken after we walked away from Him, God still welcomes us home like the prodigal son, puts the best robes on us, and kills the fattened calf to celebrate our return ( Luke 15 : 11 - 32).
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ~ Matthew 14 : 28 - 31
If we can just believe, have faith that God’s promises are ever true. See ourselves and our situations according to the word of God. We will overcome. This doesn’t happen overnight. We have to train, to unlearn some things, to learn the truth, to meditate on the word of God day and night, until it becomes our nature. All God requires is a willing and obedient heart. Our shortcomings are not a secret to our Creator.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then am I strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12 : 9 - 11
Social media may not have a space for what isn’t perfectly filtered but God showers all His love on imperfection. The world will despise us because of our weaknesses, but the God of all Creation will make us strong because of our weaknesses. I don’t know any greater acceptance than this!
We are all chasing good things for our lives. To eliminate the confusion in our minds about what to do with this life, we must reflect on the principles of God. They are ever true. Nothing outside of what God has spoken can be good. When we follow God wholeheartedly we receive our inheritance. Nothing is impossible with God. He is a loving Father waiting to give his children good things.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.” ~ Matthew 7 : 11
Our heavenly Father desires to be in a relationship with us. Like a Father with His children, He adores us and does not want that special bond to be replaced by anything or anyone. May our hearts be like the words of Simon Peter who answered Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6 : 68). Sold out to a loving God.
So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord God wholeheartedly.’ ~ Joshua 14 : 8 - 9
What is your favourite promise or principle from the bible?
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