Greetings!
God is amazing! I did not always think that, in fact, for many years I didn’t really give Him much consideration, except of course to try to get Him to do what I wanted. I struggled with relationships. My marriage had issues. I wanted people to appreciate me. I wanted life to be easy. After all, I live in the United States of America. Why should I have any hardships or struggles? Why shouldn’t my marriage be perfect? Why shouldn’t I be appreciated at my job?
But God…He reached into my life and started changing me on that day in July 1987. That day when I realized I really was a sinner, that I was rejecting God each time I sinned. That created a deeper emptiness, or thirst, which I thought could be filled with something in this world. I finally realized that I couldn’t do anything about that thirst. My house, beautifully remodeled, didn’t satisfy me. A savings account didn’t “hit that spot”. Being successful at my work didn’t do it for me. This struggle is common to everyone. It is a spiritual struggle and thirst. Most people don’t recognize its symptoms. I didn’t until age 33. I attempted to quench and fulfill that thirst with people and stuff, busyness, work, entertainment, alcohol and drugs, etc.
Why do we have this thirst? It is built into each of us by God. For what purpose? So that we will recognize our deep need for our Creator. He alone has the power and ability to satisfy that longing. I know this personally. In July, 1987, I finally stopped pushing God away (by rejecting His will for my own, ie, sex outside of marriage, self-centered decisions, etc), looked at myself through the lens of Scripture, recognizing and confessing that I was truly a sinner (Isaiah 64:6), and relaxed into His loving arms. Good deeds and rationalization of my sin could not take away that thirst. I had tried…but it did not get me anywhere.
On March 25th, as I opened God’s word to study Isaiah, I was encouraged by His words in Chapter 55. There was God’s offer, again. Come to Him. Always. As His child, that offer never ends. In John 4 a despised Samaritan woman had her life radically changed because Jesus gave her the same opportunity to quench her thirst. Then John Piper, in his devotional for that day, also talked about our soul’s thirst (see also John 6:35 and 7:37-38). A regular reminder is good, because we tend to lean away from God too easily.
Since that day in 1987, God has faithfully stood with me, no matter what has happened. Troubles will come. But God (my two favorite words in the Bible). He is in the struggles with me. I’m not alone. I now relax more in the struggles. I avoid the tempting self-fixes. I do not do this perfectly. He urges me, and I cooperate with Him, and I pick up the Bible each day. I talk with Him. He encourages me. Then I am encouraged by my sweet sisters and brothers in the Lord.
I have joy and peace, even in the midst of the historic event we are living through today. It’s not anything I create in me. God puts it there.
God wants to make a difference in your life. He wants to help you make decisions that will give you peace and joy in the midst of hardships. Will you let Him do that today? What might hold you back from admitting you also are a sinner, and are unequipped to do anything about that? Why not learn more about a relationship with Jesus? Is His Holy Spirit tugging on your heart, calling you also to find rest in Him?
Religion did not do it for me, but this living relationship has enabled me to turn my fear to faith, and my panic to praise and prayer.
Can I help you in your journey with God? Whether you realize it or not, you are traveling on a journey He has set into motion for your life!
Warmly, Donna
Recommended reading: Paul Tripp’s Wednesday Devotional dated 3.25.2020
Copyright Donna Shappy 03.25.2020
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