Let's face it, we want what we want and we want it on our own terms in perfect timing.
But seriously, that never happens, no matter how much we wish it would. We tend to think we know what we need, but we really don't. We know what we desire, but our desires aren't always what is best for us. We have to see that in order to understand life better. We have to distinguish our desires from our needs and recognize that all of our needs can be met in God.
We all have this God-shaped hole in our hearts and each decision we make, whether or not we know it, is to fill that hole. We attempt to fill it with the pleasures of this world: sex, alcohol, drugs, shopping, food, entertainment, etc. We use material things to fill a hunger that can only be satisfied when we learn to know God. That's why we keep searching for things and buying more because it is all temporary and once the pleasure is over, we indulge more to stop the aching in our hearts.
But when are we going to stop and reflect on what our desires are doing to us? It is one thing to desire something, and it's another to act on it. There are good desires that we long for, such as community. No matter how much we enjoy our alone time, we all desire community because God created us to for that, to grow, to cherish, and to share with each other. However, we have to be able to recognize the desires of our hearts that are not beneficial to us.
Author of "Perfectly Yourself", Matthew Kelley, describes the process perfectly, desires and "thoughts create actions. Actions create habits. Habits create character. And your character is your destiny."
Really think about who you are and who you are living for, where the desires are coming from and the deeper root behind them. Don't be afraid to come to Jesus in your brokenness. He wants to meet you where you are and fill the hole in your heart that only He can satisfy. No one is too far gone. I promise you this is the right way to go and this path will be the most fruitful in your journey through life.
