I was having a conversation with someone recently who was struggling with life. They were sharing that relationships were disappointing, that they did not like their career route, and they were unsure of God's calling on their life and whether their life was counting for much. In our conversation I realized that this person's struggle was coming from their quest to find "it". We all find ourselves looking for "it" sometimes, I know I do. We think "it" will be found in the right relationship, the right job, the right ministry, or even the right house or car. Yet if we were honest the harder we look for "it" the more dissatisfied we find ourselves.
I told this person that "it" was God Himself. As Augustine said: "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee." "It" is found in learning how to enjoy God. True joy can only be found in God. God's gifts in life are meaningless if we do not enjoy the Giver of the gifts first. John Piper puts it this way: "To be satisfied in God does not come naturally to sinful people. By nature we get more pleasure out of God's gifts than God Himself." Joy is serious business to God. Finding joy in God is a command in scripture: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."(Psalm 37:4 NIV) As with all of God's commands He always has our best in mind and at heart.
He is the Superior Pleasure.
Delighting in God is the remedy to overcoming sin: "You have filled my heart with greater joy..." (Psalm 4:7 NIV) Sin promises pleasure; that is why we are tempted by it. God promises pleasure as well. When we seek Him and obey Him we will find a greater joy than sin can offer.
He is the Superior Promise.
Delighting in God is the remedy to heartache and disappointments of life:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV)
The promise of eternal life in heaven outweighs any trial, struggle, or disappointment this life can bring.
He is the Superior Power.
Delighting in God is the remedy to routine and apathy: "...the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV) Joy in God is where we find true spiritual and emotional strength. Sometimes I find my prayer life a drag. Why? Because prayer becomes drudgery when it is seen as duty rather than a means of joy. The same can be said of worship. Worship becomes routine when it is not pursued as a means of joy.
I know that what I need in my life is to learn to enjoy God more. There are many things that get in the way of me enjoying God. TV, busyness, schedules, self, false thoughts of God, avoiding the Word, avoiding prayer, avoiding others, keeping grudges, pursuing joy in God's gifts rather than God Himself, the list could go on and on.
I realized the other day I was looking for "it". God reminded me that I was simply looking for Him. He had not gone anywhere. I am determined not to pray more, read more, serve more, or even obey more, but rather to enjoy God more. I know if I do that all of these things will be in my life.
I pray you will join me...
