The Only Way To Satisfaction
Satisfaction is hard to come by these days. Many try to offer it, even guarantee it, but all believers know the only possible way to satisfy the heart’s longings is Jesus. We can try to eat our way to satisfaction, but it will never fill our hearts. We can try to spend our way to satisfaction, but it will also leave us unfulfilled (and broke!). No, true satisfaction is a state which is impossible to earn or achieve by ourselves.
Today, the world tries to offer satisfaction in “things.” Buy the newest car! Eat our tastiest sandwich! Smell this new fragrance! Yet, if we are depending on these items to bring happiness and satisfaction in our lives, we will be sorely disappointed. Real satisfaction comes only from God, and before He can bring us real satisfaction, we must become satisfied with solely God.
The Psalms are replete with praises for God’s goodness. The writers call out hymns of praise signifying their satisfaction with God. David sings, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Later we learn, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Notice what is absent…possessions, good health, a new car, bulging bank accounts. I can hear you ask, “You mean to tell me, that the only way for me to be satisfied in this world, is to be satisfied with God?” Bingo.
Job was a man who battled inwardly (and outwardly) to attain, and then maintain, satisfaction with God. Job’s 3 friends belittled him and His God. Repeatedly, Job responded, through His words and His actions by exclaiming, “I am satisfied with my God.” The truth is Job had absolutely nothing to fall back on. All his family and fortune was gone. The only aspect of Job’s life that he was certain of was his satisfaction with God. This was enough for Job. This is enough for us.
The key for our joy, our satisfaction, is to find our satisfaction in the Lord. It is not enough to just know that He exists; for knowing and rejecting will only bring pain, hardship, and eventual eternal separation from God). We must accept His perfect gift of salvation and walking in His grace each day. This is where true satisfaction begins.
Jesus taught a series of lesson called the Beatitudes. He states, “Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled (satisfied). Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.” Now, the last time I checked true spiritual filling could not be obtained through numbers in a bank account, or the amount of “likes” we receive on an online post. According to Jesus, we are only completely satisfied when we lose ourselves in Him. Seek to do His will - satisfied. Learn to love Him through our doubts - satisfied. Trust in Him regardless of circumstances - satisfied. In other words, satisfaction in God comes not through our possessions but through His person. All in all, satisfaction comes through our unwavering commitment to accomplish His will in our lives. In turn, God will give us perspective and lavish us with satisfaction truly in Him alone.
Paul echoes this notion of where to find our fulfillment, or our satisfaction, in a tiny verse at the end of Philippians. He concludes, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” What more could we ever want? Whatever we truly need…Christ will meet it. Our need? Satisfied by God.
God looked down upon sinful earth and knew the world would need a sinless offering to atone for the sins of mankind. He knew He had to send Jesus to the world to save the world from its sins. My, oh my, how this must have broken God’s heart. His Son, the Perfect spotless Lamb, must be sent to earth to save wretched mankind from their sin. This was the only way. If satisfaction was indeed achievable, it would arrive solely through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As Jesus hung on the cross, at the moment of His death, the veil was torn in two. God was now “satisfied” with man because He viewed mankind through the prism of Jesus’ perfection.
The old hymn rings true, “I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus, but the question comes to me, as I think of Calvary, is my Master satisfied with me?” This question, this gauge, can only be answered by us. Are we satisfied with only Jesus? If so, then let’s live like it! If so, then let’s pray like it! If so, then let’s believe like it! I am satisfied. Are you?