You ever been begging God for something, and instead of Him giving it to you, He provides revelation about it? It is the highest form of liberation.
Previously, we'd talked about what it would look like to actually reach satisfaction, to not have to ask for anything ever again. We considered that because of our human appetite, we may never actually reach complete satisfaction. In other words, every single person on this planet will forever be able to pinpoint one area in their life that could substantially improve, and what material thing(s) would contribute to this improvement.
But what if it's less about what you're lacking, and more about why this lack is so detrimental?
Use me as an example. Over the past year, my personal finances have not been up to my liking. I am a full-time graduate student, so it was difficult to find employment that not only worked with my school schedule, but 1. allotted time to do homework and 2. was genuinely fulfilling... not just a check.
People like to say money doesn't bring you happiness, but it definitely makes life a lot more manageable. There were so many things I needed to get done and lack of employment was completely impeding them. Some time passes and I finally land a part-time job that brings me fulfillment, works around my school schedule, and provides me with some income. Eventually, though, those checks weren't cutting it and I needed more. And the cycle continues.
It wasn't until I read this quote from the book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God that it really hit me. The quote reads,
"Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering" [Chan, 2008, p.68].
He goes on to say,
"Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens..." [Chan, 2008, p. 78].
For me, more money = more control over the unexpected + uncontrollable
Now, let's use our common sense. Like I said before, financial stability is a genuine human desire. There is nothing sinful about that. We all want to afford to eat, sleep, and be merry. But we must remember that God loves situations where His children have to depend on Him for provision. He relishes in the opportunity to reveal Himself to us more, to demonstrate His faithfulness, to make a way out of no way, to show us we can trust Him. And many times, stocking up on earthly treasures obstructs the opportunities for God to fill in the lack.
So, take a second to examine what you currently need soo badly. Then say, "Lord, what does this desire reveal about my (lack of) dependence on you?"
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