Rest and Yearning: Can It Be?

“You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

“As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
    when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” Psalm 16:11; 17:15

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

Thank the Lord for planting in us a hunger for truth, and for revealing Himself through His word and creation. Through our life journey He continues to teach us, to both awaken and fulfill that longing. The beautiful thing about Jesus is He offers deep unshakable soul rest coincidentally with ongoing desire to know Him better- a mysterious and indescribable combination that flows from His finished work on the cross and His Spirit’s ongoing sanctifying work in us. (John 19:30; Romans 1:19-20)

Yes, we can have, and wait, at the same time. We can be sated, and hunger for more. We can hope with assurance, and yearn while at rest. We are limited by time and space, yet eternity thrums in our hearts. Our days are measured, yet we will live forever. We can find and unite with Him whom our soul loves, yet always want to be closer. These are the inexplicable dichotomies of the Christian walk, just as Jesus completed His work for us and is ever finishing His work in us. (Psalm 36:8-9; 38:9,15; 39:4,7; 63:5; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Song of Solomon 3:4; John 3:16)

So as the world spins, and all around us quakes and questions, we can face our days with steady confidence while standing on an immovable foundation. Our feet can be fixed here as our hearts are fixed in heaven and our minds are stayed on Christ. This is the way to peace that cannot be shaken. (Isaiah 26:3: John 14:27; 16:33)

Have we grown complacent in our rest, settling for earthly ease and failing to look beyond today, above to Christ, and ahead to maturity? Are our yearnings for temporal things and activities that turn our affections away from God, or toward Him and His righteousness? How well are we training and developing our thoughts and emotions within the bounds of God’s discipline? Do we set our hearts and hungers free to roam according to unbridled whims and sensual fancy, or set them firmly on what is true and noble, right and pure? (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:1-2)

The tensions established by the Almighty are intended to keep us dependent on Him for right thinking and doing. As we daily trust in Him, we also find rest in Him as we pursue holiness. No other place supplies soul satisfaction.

Lord, keep me drinking from Your river of delights, and ever thirsty. Fill me, and fill me again, that I might sing and live Your praise.