My ‘bubble’ has expanded to ten people and my granddaughter is in the bubble. 

I have watched this little girl grow, from a distance. I recognize that visits, even from a distance, are more than some people have experienced with loved ones.  I have been fortunate.  For months I have longed to hold her in my arms, toss her in the air, experience the comfort of her simply looking into my face and grabbing ahold of yes, even my glasses. 

The longing I experienced has ended. She easily stretches out her arms entering into mine. It is odd to be without the feeling of longing. I have realized that longing is a beautiful emotion.  It is not always easy to be in a position of longing as the wait can become tiring. We wonder when the longing will be satisfied. I find it interesting that I actually miss the experience of longing. 

Use of the word longing, in relationship to our faith, is unique. I am left wondering if we as God’s people are meant to experience longing as a constant companion on the journey.  Longing draws us deeper into our faith and closer to our Lord Jesus, and then, in some beautiful way, propels us forward. Deep hunger, and thirst, are expressions of longing.  We experience hunger and thirst and then find our longing satisfied.  But then, we find ourselves in a position of hunger and thirst again. We hunger for righteousness and we thirst for the presence of God.  We hunger to understand God’s movements and we thirst to know his character more deeply.  We hunger for peace and we thirst for a word spoken by our God. At any point along the way we are satisfied by the God who promises to fill our every longing but then we return, yet once again, to the experience of longing. 

In 1910 Luther Bridges was 26 years old.  He wrote these words.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest name I know,

Fills my every longing

Keeps me singing as I go.

The verses to this song speak of salvation –the wonder of Jesus stirring life into a restless, empty, heavy, fearful, longing soul. The deepest longing humanity can have, to know God, was satisfied in Luther’s life.  It is interesting that Luther speaks of hunger being satisfied by the feast of grace offered by and through Jesus. We were created to have our deepest longing satisfied by the LORD alone.  The truth shared by Augustine, an early theologian, speaks of this; “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in God.”

I have known my deepest longing for salvation satisfied, but what captures my attention, as I consider the ongoing longings in my own life, are further words Luther speaks from his heart; “keeps me singing as I go” and “in all of life’s ebb and flow.”  Longing is a companion that attends our side as we journey through life and Jesus alone continues to meet us ‘as we go’, to satisfy those longings. All longings will be completely satisfied when we reach heaven.  It is then joy unspeakable will flood our soul.  In this we rejoice!

Someday I long for my longings to end, but today I have a new appreciation for the gift of longing, and I thank the Lord for it. Join me and the Psalmist and sing to the Lord, “my soul longs after you” (Psalm 42:1).

 

571  As the Deer

 

As the deer pants for the water

So my soul longs after You.

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship You.

    You alone are my strength my shield

    To you alone may my spirit yield.

    You alone are my heart’s desire

    and I long to worship You.

I want you more than gold or silver,

Only You can satisfy.

You alone are the real joy giver,

And the apple of my eye

You alone are my strength my shield

To you alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my heart’s desire

and I long to worship You.

 

You’re my friend and you are my brother,

Even though you are a king

I love you more than any other,

So much more than anything.

 

You alone are my strength my shield

To you alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my heart’s desire

and I long to worship You.

Another song with a restful tune (new to our songbook) I have continued to sing over the past day is “There is a Hope” by Stuart Townend. These powerful words speak of the hope of longings satisfied.  It is another song worth singing today!  What a gift google is! 

Lord, we know “we are blessed when we work up a good appetite for you.  You are food and drink in the best meal we’ll ever have” (Matthew 5:6 The Message). Today, as life calls forth different longings in our souls, we turn to you the one who satisfies our thirst and our hunger. Where we have been satisfied by superficial and temporary things of the world forgive us.  Stir longings for what draws us to you. AMEN