Part of the Christian faith is cycling through moments of desperation. Desperation for our faith to feel alive, for a sense of deep passion for the hope we have, for personal experience of the Holy Spirit. It’s easy for this sense of desperation to lead us to believe a lie. The lie that our desperation is a weakness, we are somehow “wrong” for this feeling or this “gap” in our faith, or that we should have shame for yearning for more of Jesus when He has already given us everything.
I’m here to debunk this lie today. For you, for me. Our desperation, our desire to encounter God through His Holy Spirit, to have a passionate faith, is exactly how we were created to be. We know what it is like to be enthusiastic and zealous. We know how our faithful passion feels and when we drift, we want it back.
Our awareness of living from this passionate commitment, living in faithful obedience, should not lead us to shame but instead to reassurance. Reassurance that we know the life God has for us, we know He is accessible to us, we know we want to get back there.
Do we believe God is near, ready to meet us in our desire for our passion to be relit? Our desire for a vibrant relationship with God does not return void; it honors God.
Isaiah 41:17 (ESV) says, “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”
When we are spiritually thirsty and cry out to God, His word tells us He will answer us and will not forsake us. Do we believe our desire is pure? Our longing is holy? Our awareness delights the Lord and He gives us the desire of our hearts—nearness to Him.
May God grant you the desire of your heart—rich intimacy with Him—today. I believe He has that for all who seek Him today. Amen.
- Britt Goff #wheatfulwednesday
Wheat and Honey Co.