Are you satisfied? Are you searching for meaning in life, belonging, or love. Do you feel a sense of safety and purpose? Do you long to be understood? Do you feel like the "odd-ball"; like no one "gets" you? These questions or longings of the soul are by God's design. Soul questions and longings are purposed to draw us into relationship with our heavenly Father. Yet, so often, rather than looking to the One who can satisfy the longings of our soul, we turn to people and things. The problem with this is people and things may bring satisfaction, but it is temporal. Sex, money, food, shopping, alcohol, etc.--temporary satisfaction.
According to Dr. Robert Shaw in his book, Created for Significance, there are six core longings of the soul:
* Significance
* Safety
* Purpose
* Understanding
* Belonging
* Love
There is an ethereal void within every human soul that we long to have filled. Many of us spend a lot of time, emotional energy, and money to have that void filled. Once the feeling of satisfaction is gone, the void that was temporarily filled is now empty again. So the cycle of the "Pursuit of Temporary Satisfaction" continues. It is a futile and exhausting quest because that part of us was designed for relationship with the triune God.
Within each of us is an intrinsic desire to know God and to be known by God. Ultimately He is the only One who can satisfy our souls, because He created us! Only He knows what we need. Who better or more qualified to satisfy the longings of our soul than the One who created us?
* Significance
"Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you..."--Isaiah 43:4(HCB)
* Safety
"The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe."
--Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)
* Purpose
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."--Jeremiah 29:11(NLT)
* Understanding
"You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off."--Psalm 139:2(NKJV)
* Belonging
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."--John 15:5(NKJV)
* Love
"Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."--Jeremiah 31:3(NLT)
If you are searching for "something" today...if there is an itch in your soul, look to the Lord. Only he can meet the longings of our hearts and bring continual satisfaction.
"The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."--Isaiah 58:11(NKJV)
According to Dr. Robert Shaw in his book, Created for Significance, there are six core longings of the soul:
* Significance
* Safety
* Purpose
* Understanding
* Belonging
* Love
There is an ethereal void within every human soul that we long to have filled. Many of us spend a lot of time, emotional energy, and money to have that void filled. Once the feeling of satisfaction is gone, the void that was temporarily filled is now empty again. So the cycle of the "Pursuit of Temporary Satisfaction" continues. It is a futile and exhausting quest because that part of us was designed for relationship with the triune God.
Within each of us is an intrinsic desire to know God and to be known by God. Ultimately He is the only One who can satisfy our souls, because He created us! Only He knows what we need. Who better or more qualified to satisfy the longings of our soul than the One who created us?
* Significance
"Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you..."--Isaiah 43:4(HCB)
* Safety
"The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe."
--Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)
* Purpose
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."--Jeremiah 29:11(NLT)
* Understanding
"You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off."--Psalm 139:2(NKJV)
* Belonging
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."--John 15:5(NKJV)
* Love
"Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."--Jeremiah 31:3(NLT)
If you are searching for "something" today...if there is an itch in your soul, look to the Lord. Only he can meet the longings of our hearts and bring continual satisfaction.
"The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."--Isaiah 58:11(NKJV)
