I’m right now recovering from the flu, which is why you haven’t heard from me in awhile. I apologize–sleeping in bed all day doesn’t really give one much blog fodder.
But I am feeling much better, which is good. I also was thinking today about being satisfied by God. So many times I find myself simply being “content” with God. I don’t have a boyfriend, but I remind myself that it’s ok, God loves me. I don’t get an A, but God doesn’t care about that. I’m having a bad hair day, but God still loves me. All of those are true, yes, but they miss the point.
I’m not to merely be content with God. He isn’t some second-place consolation prize, as much as I want him to be. For He is so much more. He satisfies all the deepest needs of my soul in a way that nothing else can. Far from being something to settle for, He is the sole provider of all that I need. No man, no job, no grade, no amount of money, no perfect hair day, nothing else can fully fill all the longings of my heart more than He can. His love and His mercy are all I need.
We have this song we sing at school sometimes, an old hymn called “Satisfied”. In case you’ve never heard it, here are the lyrics:
All my life long I had panted
For a drink from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt withinHallelujah He has found me
The one my soul so long has craved
Jesus satisfies all my longings
Through His blood I now am savedFeeding on the filth around me
Till my strength was almost gone
Longed my soul for something better
Only still to hunger onPoor I was and sought for riches
Something that would satisfy
But the dust I gathered ’round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cryWell of water ever springing
Bread of life so rich and free
Untold wealth that never faileth
My Redeemer is to me
Even now I constantly am longing for God. I should say especially now. He is truly, my soul’s sufficiency. Not just what I can have because I can’t get anything else. To treat Him and His abundant love and extravagant grace as a second-place trophy is an insult. It is holding up these other things as idols and saying to God “You may be enough, but you aren’t truly the thing I was made for. Our relationship is good, but it doesn’t satisfy all of my deepest longings.”
But it does. It does satisfy every need I could ever have, even more than anything else ever could. He is not second-best. He satisfies all my longings in the deepest way.
Odabo,
Sarah
pistolpete said,
March 13, 2007 at 10:43 am
I found your site via Traci (“Haystacks”)
Good reflections. Reminds me of Paul’s thoughts on his “thorn in the flesh” – “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Thanks for your thoughtful faith. Hope to connect more often.
Kathy said,
April 16, 2007 at 10:07 am
I was looking for the lyrics to the song you mentioned. I must have an updated arrangement, for what I listen to is not exactly as you cited it. BUT what an uplifting and beautiful expression. Your entire page is wonderful: its name, the description, and the John Donne quote. Thank you for your faithfulness to our Lord. I will definitely be back and I’d like to add your link to my blog. Bless you!
Jen said,
October 10, 2007 at 10:20 pm
hi i randomly found your site – i am totally with you regarding satisfaction in God (the theme of my xanga for the past gazillion years it feels like)
hope you are well…
sandrar said,
September 10, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Robert said,
September 22, 2009 at 8:18 am
Thanks for posting Clara Williams’s lovely gospel song, “Satisfied.” (Today, as I write, is the 151st anniversary of the author’s birth.) The hymn is a great reminder of where lasting contentment and fulfilment can be found, in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you’d like to know a bit more about Mrs. Williams, you can check out my blog, Wordwise Hymns. God bless.