Read Psalm 84
What has your soul been longing for lately? Think long term. Many of us probably long for that next big step in life: graduation, a big move, new job, marriage, kids, new house, job promotion, retirement, etc. How often are we longing for eternity, to be with the Lord, for the new heaven and new earth? If we’re honest with ourselves, we spend way more time longing for these earthly goals than eternal ones. Spend a little time meditating to determine where your desires and longings lie, be specific.
I am very much a music-oriented person. I find when I read Scripture, there is generally a song that pops into my head to match the emotions or thoughts I am experiencing. (I know what you’re thinking, and no, it was not Matt Redman’s “Better is One Day”. God bless early 2000s contemporary worship music). I would encourage you to listen to “Rest in You” by All Sons and Daughters, if you have been to many Gatherings this song will be familiar.
Always striving for the next life goal, to me, is a representation of the restlessness in my soul.
As we know, once we achieve one of these goals, while good, we are not ultimately satisfied. I love the feeling of joy and peace that the psalmist communicates. He recognizes that it is not about eternal glory, stating he would rather be the lowest of the low in the Lord’s house than be honored among sinners. This is not how we typically think, but don’t you think we should start? Don’t you think that instead of seeking our own selfish ambitions, we should seek the true peace that comes from trusting in the Lord? However, we usually don’t do this. Because what we want generally isn’t bad or sinful. In all of those long-term goals I mentioned before, we can/will/should honor the Lord. The issue lies in where our hopes lie, where our souls sigh, where we find rest. Reflect on why you have unrest. Try to determine what you are actually longing for in place of God. (Hint: various Christian authors have noted four “source idols”: acceptance, power, comfort, or control).
So what do we do about it? We have already started to recognize the areas in our life where our soul longs for selfish or earthly desires over eternal ones. How do we reconcile these misplaced hopes while still pursuing these worthy goals? Some ideas to get you started… Prayer. Thank the Lord for His sovereignty over your life, confess when you turn to other idols, and ask the Lord to change your heart towards Him and to focus your desires on eternity. Meditation. I am learning how easy it really is to just set a timer for 15-20 minutes to mediate. You are busy, but you can do this. Take this time to work through your emotions and experiences, where you see yourself longing for things on earth, and present this back to God. Creating this rhythm can cultivate change in how we view our daily life and where we seek satisfaction. Rest. Removing yourself from the busyness of life and your daily pursuits. This has to be purposeful. For me, rest can simply mean taking a walk, sitting and listening to music (not just having it on in the background), sharing life with a friend over coffee, going for a drive. The goal is to refocus and refresh your spirit. Remember, this psalm is ultimately a song of praise and joy. Our time in this life is not meant to be a burden, God has created us for His glory and He longs to dwell with us! Blessed is the one whose soul longs for Your presence, whose heart and flesh sings for joy to the living God!
-- Christine Luter