The Satisfaction Of Seeking The Lord

Can you imagine being completely satisfied? How would you feel? Imagine being satisfied with your relationships and satisfied in your life. When we pursue God and walking with Him, he will satisfy us. Too many times, we are looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places.

Jesus promises that if we walk with Him, we will never thirst! We will have the inner strength and security that comes from God to keep us happy and satisfied.

Today, if you are feeling dissatisfied and discontented, consider where you have been going for hope and satisfaction. Often the very things we go to for fulfillment leave us more thirsty and empty.

Learn a new way of thinking

Then Jesus said, “²⁸ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Jesus helps us understand that even if we have challenging circumstances and many responsibilities, we can still have a rich and restful life.

Often, it is easy to look for momentary escapes from our lives to find rest but they never last and leave us more weary and burdened.

The first step to living a satisfied life is making the decision to go to God for strength. Jesus does not promise us a burden free life but he promises to teach us how to find rest for our souls as we live our lives.

Our Good and His Glory

Seeking satisfaction in Christ alone serves two purposes: It is for our good and for the glory of God. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied with him.” As we drink daily from the cup of Jesus, it becomes evident to those we interact with that Jesus is enough and our hearts will “flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).

We reap the benefits of knowing, loving, and delighting in Jesus. The Father gives us peace that surpasses understanding and provides for all our needs according to his riches. No good thing is withheld from us and all things work together for our good. Living in light of these truths proclaims to a discontent world that Jesus is better than anything the world has to offer. As we look to Jesus to make us truly happy, we also proclaim to a world in need that only Christ can truly satisfy.

“When we are most satisfied with him, he loves that,” S.O. said with a smile. “We are glorifying God when our satisfaction is Jesus alone. We never heard [this] concept before, because to us it was we have to read our Bible to glorify God [or] we have to pray to make him happy. No. When we are satisfied with him all those things will happen and he is happy with us. He is most glorified when we are [happy in him], which is crazy.”

Promises of Satisfaction

The Bible is full of glorious promises of satisfaction for the discontent:

• Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
• For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Psalm 107:9)
• The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:26)
• In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Questions/Application

• How often do we see our discontentment and insecurity as a sign of an internal weakness brought on by our lack of going to the right “well” –  James 4: 1-7, Proverbs 13:15 (NIV)
• Identify where you have been going to get strength. Self? Others? Status? Achievements?
• What are the consequences of chasing these things for strength? Jeremiah 17:5-6 (AMP)
• How can you start seeking God today?