Only God Can Satisfy Our Hearts

At a very young age Ian disregarded the God of the Bible, believing only ‘very old people’ might be interested in Him. But the void that only God can fill remained in Ian’s heart. By age 24, his desire for freedom (what he defined as ‘lost in awe, wonder and thrill, without any worries’) was all-consuming. It drove him to leave home and travel to exotic surf and diving locations. But no matter how far Ian traveled, no matter how many perfect barrels and incredible experiences he encountered – the void remained.

Read Jeremiah 2:11-20.

Centuries before Christ, God revealed Himself to the ancient nation of Israel. At one time they were so close to Him, it was as though they were married. He satisfied the deepest part of their souls and promised to protect and provide for them. But they metaphorically threw off their wedding ring and became spiritually promiscuous (v20). They forsook God and turned to other things as a substitute (v11). They abandoned God, a spring of fresh water, and drank from slimy self-made pits of stale water instead (v13). The result: they broke God’s heart, and eventually their own. God withdrew His protection and satisfaction, with a promise of punishing them ultimately.

Still today, like ancient Israel and like Ian, we do the same. When we fail to find our joy, hope, identity and completeness in our Creator, we turn to created things to replace Him. Most of us don’t bow down to literal idols, but we have idols of the heart nonetheless. For some it’s money or power or approval or comfort or security, or like Ian, thrills.

Ian thought that the thrill of extreme sports, of adventures to exotic locations, of the absence of responsibility, of partying, sex and drugs would satisfy him. But he discovered that each thrill lasts for a brief moment, and leaves us emptier than before. The reason? There’s a God-shaped vacuum inside of us that God alone can fill.

Is God a source of joy, hope, identity and completeness in your own life? What are the things you tend to turn to when you’re not drinking from God? In what ways do these things ultimately disappoint you?