Saturday, February 15, 2020

Wants, Needs, Wishes

It's interesting how our wants, needs, wishes change as the years pass. When I was little, I wanted a doll with eyes that open and shut. A few years later, I wanted a bicycle. In high school, I wanted a boyfriend. In college, I didn't know what I wanted; I just needed to be done, graduate, get a job, and get on with my life. Although I had no idea how that would all play out...

Well, one of my little brothers thought my new dollie needed a bath, put her in the tub, ran water over her, and emptied the A-Jax can on her face. Her beautiful eyes that open and shut became permanently open in a clouded stare. My older brother's friend borrowed my bike on a summer afternoon. It came back with dents and a broken spoke. My high school boyfriend went to another college and eventually into the service. I finished college, got a job...  Life played out with me wanting, needing, wishing for different things as one year became another.

Over time, I've come to understand that the only thing that permanently satisfies me is my everlasting relationship with someone named Jesus.

I realize that there are many in the world who are without adequate food, shelter, and clean water. I wish it were not so. We are fortunate to live in a place where these needs are generally available either because we get a paycheck or there are services available to help those who can not work.

However, I, like most of my acquaintances have a closet full of shoes and clothes, a warm house, plenty of food, and a grocery store down the street. If you have all this and are still wishing and hoping for something else, something forever fulfilling, try Jesus. Your heart's wants, needs, wishes will change.

You may be asking--Try Jesus?--what does that look like, how does that work?
He's beside you, right now.
Tell him of your sorrows, your joys, your wants, needs, wishes.
He hears it all.
Praise him, too.
Why?
Because of the wonderful promises He has given you.
It's all in the Good Book, the Bible.
Try John--it comes after Matthew, Mark, Luke.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. 
In him was life and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness...