Satisfying Love

Satisfy - to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to

Satisfaction. It’s something we all want and think about. We all hope to have our desires and needs met, to be fully contented and happy, to be filled. So many things seem to promise satisfaction: that perfect boyfriend, the dream job, expensive clothes, delicious food, the adoration of others, new exciting experiences - the list goes on and on. I don't know about you, but often when I feel like I am lacking - I reach for something from that list to somehow ameliorate the deep discontent. It often works for a little while (a little diet coke and dark choc when I'm not so thrilled about studying can certainly do the trick), but unless I ultimately surrender my desires to the Lord, I find my self wanting. Surrendering my desires always seems to be scary business at first - does God really know what I need? Will He give it to me? Will God really give me what is best, or will He give me only the bare minimum? These are tough issues to wrestle with, but I think some of these verses help out:

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

God doesn't promise to only satisfy our needs; He promises to make us like an overflowing, beautiful, lush garden. I absolutely love that image. God does not only want me to get by, He wants me to prosper and be full! He even promises to grant us the desires of our heart. While some interpret this verse as meaning that God will give us what we want most dearly, I think of it as God giving us our desires. He will teach us to long for holiness and His best for us. What a wonderful promise! I pray that today, we ask the Lord to grant us godly desires and that we bask in the wonderful fullness of his love.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14