Have you noticed that it is human nature to always be striving for something? That there is an inherent longing inside of us that tells us we need to do more, be more, or act more a certain way?

“I wish I could…”

“If only I had…”

“When I get…”

“One day I will have…or be… or do…”

How often do you catch yourself thinking or saying things like that? The Bible tells us why. We are incomplete beings. We were designed by our Creator to live eternal, spiritual lives in full fellowship with Him. Since the fall of man introduced sin into our world and gave us the inheritance of a broken, sinful nature at birth, we are constantly striving to get back to that place where we are completely satisfied and whole.

I don’t think we will ever fully realize this while we live in unredeemed, physical fleshly bodies, but our soul and spirit can experience it – but only in Jesus Christ. As Christ-followers, we are in Christ and He is in us through the indwelling Spirit of God. We can experience the abundant fullness of Jesus Himself as He lives in and through us, satisfying every desire, hope, longing, and goal.

My sweet mama has a way with words in poetry. Here’s one she wrote recently, called “The ABCs of our God,” that expresses this same truth. All that we need or want is found in Him.

Our God is AMAZING,

His BENEFITS never CEASE.

He DAILY comforts His children,

And EMBRACES them with peace.

He is FAITHFUL to GUARD and to GUIDE us,

His HELP is there when we fear.

His INFINITE JOY sustains us,

For we KNOW He is always near.

His LOVE and His MERCY are present,

And NOTHING can hurt or harm.

When troubles or sickness surround us

We can run to His OPEN arms.

He PROTECTS and QUIETS us

When problems seem to RISE,

He always has the answer,

Nothing takes Him by SURPRISE.

He tenderly watches His children,

He keeps them UNDER His wings,

His VICTORY and WONDERFUL presence

Gives us XTRA reasons to sing.

So YIELD your life and soul to Him,

With complete surrender and ZEAL,

And you will know these wonderful truths

When you trust the God who is real.

(Judy Proffitt, May 5, 2021)

Paul describes Jesus in this way: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17).

He goes on to pray for those reading his letter that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3).

Writing to the believers at Ephesus, Paul again describes the experience promised to those who love and follow Jesus, as he prays that they may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19).

What do you desire?

What do you hope for?

What do you think will finally make you happy, or successful, or equal a productive life?

Anything outside of Jesus will fall far short of what we can have in Jesus. We are made in God’s image, to have the image of Christ formed in us, and nothing we can desire or imagine can compare. It is not a coincidence that God refers to Himself as the “alpha” and “omega,” the beginning and the end. Find your life in Him, and you will truly find life.