Dry Season: Trusting God with Unmet Longings

Have you ever wanted something so badly your heart ached with each thought of it? It seems life would be so much better if you had that. Maybe you think there would be more happiness, more contentment, more fulfillment, more satisfaction or more peace.

We sometimes wrestle with the unmet longings and in the process we somehow get the idea that if we had that job, that car, that person, that child, that house……. (fill in the blanks) life would be so perfect and joy would be constant in our lives.

So why does it seem that God doesn’t give us those things that our hearts constantly long for?

Because He wants us to willingly release it to Him. If we are not careful slowly and slowly we begin to slip into a feeling that we are distant from God because we feel hurt. We all know how crazy that cycle can get. BUT you can make a choice, you could either be consumed with your unmet longing or trust the plans of our loving God. As an offering of trust, we must give up that which could so easily bring us down.

Not give up as in a discouraged surrender but giving up as in placing this desire in the hand of god and saying, "either way, i will see your answer as the good answer and walk in trust."

"And without faith is it impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Does that mean things will be peachy perfect? Sadly no. But here is one thing I know for sure, once you make a decision to walk in trust...today will be much better than yesterday. Not easy but good.

Don’t get so consumed with unmet longings, earnestly seek Him. His rewards are the only thing that will fill the voids in your heart :) 

Why I Said No To Salvation

Ten years ago I had the opportunity to meet one of the most incredible people I know to date. What was particularly interesting about this friend was how peaceful always she seemed to be even in the worst of times.

We instantly hit it off as friends. She was the peaceful, cool, calm and collected one and I was the complete opposite, lets just say I wasn't one of the nicest people in the planet. If Mean Girls the movie was hold auditions for their lead role I would get it instantaneously - i was a natural. I was the most negative, judgmental, annoying person on the planet.

During one of our regular hangouts, she suddenly looked at me with fiery eyes and asked “Would you like to know about the Lord”, she asked. At first I was quite shocked and deliberately wanted to walk away from her.  

Photo courtesy of Patheos.com

"Not this again", i said as i rolled my eyes preparing to leave. I had heard of these same lines before and I wasn't ready to go through the whole you-need-to-get-saved talk. In all honesty I was familiar with all the reasons as to why I should get saved (they were constantly sold to me all the time)  however I had all the answers as to why it didn't make sense to me.

1. Come to Jesus, being a Christian is fun

 My answer would be Paul the apostle never seemed like he had fun(I went to a Catholic School and hence reading the bible was a must).What about the persecuted saints in the bible and those dying around the whole because of the religion?

2. Come to Jesus and you will never sin again

 Have you seen the news we have daytime evangelist splashed all over the media because of their sins. If he/she can sin what chances do I have.

3. Come to Jesus and you wont be miserable

 Well, I am happy and I really like my life thank you very much

4. Come to Jesus, you wont have problems

Well everybody got problems, ask Oprah!

Ladies and gentlemen I had heard it all and so far it wasn't something I wanted to sign up for. I would put on my widest smile and sweetly say “Thank you, I will pass”

 However my friend took another approach. She explained to me the consequences of my then decision and what it really meant  and boy oh boy did that get my attention.

We all need to make a realistic presentation of the gospel.Salvation is not a-shallow-give me-prosperity-now idea. Sadly if that’s the idea sold to people soon the poor souls may buy it and later get disillusioned by it. It is likely to fade away in the heat of reality, persecution and doubt.

The answer to this problem would be to look at the bigger picture which is you are saved, whether you get a promotion or not, you get a spouse or not, whether you become rich or not, whether your 5 year plan comes to pass or not, whether you get your wish list or not…….all those things are irrelevant (they really are)

 For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son- John 3:17-18

The idea that should be hammered in is that your eternal destiny is at stake and it is sorely determined by whether you believe in the person of Jesus. The truth of the matter is that if you receive him, you will gain eternal life . However if you choose not to, that choice has its own consequence-hell.

It has been now 10 years since I made the decision to be a follower Christ and so far i have no regrets. Life still happens but God is amazingly good. Kindly note I said God is good and not life. He makes life good.

Make your decision today J

I Didn't Sign Up For This

“I now pronounce you husband and wife”, the Pastor declared in front of family and friends. I had never been to such a colourful yet simple and beautiful wedding. I was deeply fighting the urge to shed some tears (yes, I cry at weddings i find them beautiful). As I looked around I could feel the warmth and love oozing from the smiles of those around us. I couldn't believe it…I had finally gotten married.

“If I knew it would get to this point, I would have thought twice before marrying you”, I yelled angrily as I walked out slamming the door. This was just a month and a half after the wedding of my dreams.

“Lord, this wasn't what I signed up for”, I whispered desperately trying to cool off. I was troubled by the fact our marriage wasn't turning out the way I intended it to be or worse it wasn't fitting according to my plans.

The Lord began to deal with me over this issue slowly and yet painfully. I wasn't readily willing to let go of my expectations of my husband and of myself. It took a while to surrender these expectations I had created unfairly for my husband and myself included.

Jeremiah 29: 11 “ For I know the plans for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope  and a future.

This means that God has a plan over this marriage and He declares it is good. I slowly began to realise that indeed marriage comes with its own unique problems but even with the unexpected surprises new dreams and delights can be birthed. 

Till this very day I am amazed at how God uses a union of two sinners to sand off those rough edges that we have (and boy oh boy do I have many). You may have to give up a lot but the joy that comes with complete surrender is worth it.

Challenges in marriage, relationships and also friendships can be handled from the teachings from God’s word. How?  Making a commitment and willingly allowing God to sand off those rough edges off.  It means choosing to see your husband/wife through the eyes of God. It also means treating that person with the same regard that God has for each person. 

So the next time you find yourself with unmet expectations, turn to the Lord and allow Him to work in your mind and heart to see what He sees.

P.S After the argument, i went back and apologized to John and they lived happily ever after :)

                                                      THE END