Satisfied

He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness
Psalm 107:9

I was hurting. Once again, my heart had tripped over some relationship difficulties and had landed in a pit of despair. It was a hole that was becoming all too familiar to me and I wanted out of this pit. As I continued my Bible reading, I came to Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” So I made my request. It was wildly desirous, but unfortunately, it had human limitations. My request for satisfaction rested on the decisions of other broken human beings.

“Alright, God. I’m bringing my request to you. Please fix this relationship issue! My heart hurts. I want loving relationships where I’m accepted and loved and understood. Fix it for me!”

In the stillness of that moment, the Lord impressed upon my heart: “What if they won’t change and it doesn’t get fixed? What is your request then?”

My heart fought with this thought. I wanted that change. My satisfaction was rooted in that specific change.

“I NEED it to get fixed, Lord! I can’t go on feeling rejected like this. I need you to fix this so I can be happy again.”

Again, the gracious voice of the Lord moved in my heart: “What if they won’t change and it doesn’t get fixed? What is your request then?”

“Well, I guess I would request that you fill me in the places that need filling. I would request that I feel full and satisfied whether anything changes in my relationships, or not.”

It was then that the Lord reminded me that only He could perfectly fill the long list of desires my soul was so desperately craving.

“When you are rejected, will you be satisfied that I will never leave you or forsake you?” 

Hebrews 13:5b “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Yes, let me be satisfied that you will never leave me. You will never forsake me.

“When you are misjudged and misunderstood, will you be satisfied that I know the truth about you, your actions, and your deeds?” 

Psalm 139:3b-4  “(YOU) are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.”

Yes, let me be satisfied that you know the truth. You know my heart and all of my ways. Let me be satisfied in pleasing You alone.

“When you feel unloved, will you be satisfied that I love you unconditionally and completely?” 

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Yes, let me be satisfied that you love me unconditionally and completely.

“When you feel all alone, will you be satisfied that I am there holding your hand and guiding you with My counsel?” 

Psalm 73:23,24 “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”

Yes, let me be satisfied that You are with me and guiding me.

“When others accuse you of things you believe you are innocent of, will you be satisfied that I search your heart and will lead you in the way everlasting? Will you trust Me to do My work of conviction when needed? 

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Yes, let me be satisfied that you are trustworthy and will convict me by Your Spirit. Let me neither be deceived by my own sin nor strangled by the misjudgments of others. I trust You.

The Lord’s gracious reminders lifted my feet from the pit and placed them on His unchanging foundation of truth. I had wanted Him to change my situation, but what I really needed was for Him to change my focus. I needed to stop looking to a broken world to meet my soul’s deepest longings and look to Him alone.

I will still grieve losses, and feel the pain of wounded relationships, but I don’t have to live in the pit of despair. Mind you, I am a work in progress. But as I choose to stand on the foundation of God’s truth, my soul will breathe deeply of His steadfast love for me, and I will know sweet satisfaction.