An Answer for the Longing Heart
I am currently reading the book of Genesis. One of the corresponding Bible study questions I answered this week asked what I found most tragic about the consequences that resulted from Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
For the first time in the perfect Garden, Adam and Eve felt fear, shame, and hid from God. Before their fall, their lives were whole, complete, and lacking nothing. God had provided all that they needed, from fruits and food of all kinds to a flowing river that brought abundant nourishment to all living things. Yet when the serpent came to tempt Eve with empty promises, lies, and confusion, she believed that something better awaited her if she ate the forbidden fruit. If only she had realized that God wasn’t holding anything back from her and that everything she needed for an abundant, fulfilling life was already hers.
It made me think about how often we, too, believe the father of lies—the "grass is greener on the other side" mentality. We believe that if we just had that one more thing in life, we would be whole, happier, better, and complete. Yet when we finally get the better car, bigger house, or position of great esteem, we often find ourselves still empty and longing for more.
More is not the answer.
Today, right now, we have all that we need. Just as God provided for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He still provides for us today. In John 6:35, Jesus says,
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Wherever you’re at today, whatever you’re facing, maybe even chasing, there is no need to look farther. As our daily bread, God sustains us, fills us, and satisfies our deepest hunger. The puzzle piece missing for our longing hearts? It’s Him. And how do we receive Him? We simply ask Him, we pursue Him, we read His words to us, we pray, and we wait—knowing that He will satisfy our every need.
If I can pray for you today, please let me know. It would be a privilege I wouldn’t take lightly.
Love Outweighs Applause
If you are anything like me you are tempted to believe that your self worth and success heavily depend on the work you produce, the number of medals hanging on your wall or the magnitude of your last achievement. Though there are no awards up for grabs for the stay-at-home parent, the need to strive still exists for me.
Today I was graciously reminded of a truth that I had somehow forgotten. And that is, that our most meaningful and impactful work is often the work that’s not on display for others to see. It is the work that only God sees— the giving of ourselves and the sacrifices we make to help carry the burdens of others.
Though it is a good thing to pursue excellence and set personal goals, we are not meant to live a life that solely focuses on ourselves. We are not meant to build our own kingdoms, but rather build upon the love God has shown to us.
God is not looking at the number of things we’ve produced or accomplished here on earth, but the state of our hearts. He sees when we hold the door open for a stranger, sacrificially give to those in need, say a kind word to others, and love people even when it’s hard to do.
What the world doesn’t see, God does. And what we don’t often receive credit for here, we will be rewarded for one day.
I was encouraged today, as I hope are you, to not only aim to achieve the next best thing for myself, but to genuinely serve others in ways that will likely go unseen by the world; this is honorable and holds significant value.
And as I take my eyes off of myself a little more, I am reminded that serving others produces a lasting joy that a fleeting sense of accomplishment cannot produce.
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10
Who can you love today?
If you are anything like me, you’re tempted to believe that your self-worth and success heavily depend on the work you produce, the number of medals hanging on the wall, or the magnitude of your last achievement. Though there are no awards to be won for the stay-at-home mom, the need to strive still exists for me. Countless times, I’ve felt like I’m not accomplishing enough and the desire to prove my worth through performance runs deep.
Today, I was graciously reminded of a truth I had somehow forgotten. And that is, that our most impactful and lasting work is often the work that goes unnoticed by the world. It's the work that only God sees—the giving of ourselves, the sacrifices we make, the burdens we quietly help carry.
Our culture may reward productivity and visibility, but God values something far deeper. Though it’s good to pursue excellence and set personal goals, we weren’t created to live lives centered only on ourselves. We weren’t meant to build our own kingdoms, but rather build upon the love God has shown us, using it to lift others up.
God is not primarily looking at how much we accomplish here on earth, but at the state of our hearts. He sees the small things: when we hold the door open for a stranger, sacrificially give to someone in need, speak a kind word, or choose to love when it’s hard. The world may never applaud those movements, but God sees. And what we don’t receive credit for here, we will be rewarded for one day.
I was encouraged today, as I hope you are, to not only chase the next achievement for myself, but to pour into others in ways that may never be recognized. This is honorable and holds significant value.
As I take my eyes off of myself a little more, I’m reminded that serving others produces a joy that a fleeting sense of accomplishment never could.
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” -Romans 12:10