“And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan.'” Deuteronomy 3:23-27
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:13-16
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” Matthew 17:1-3
Humble, faithful Moses wrestled with God’s pronounced punishment at the rock. Now, after 40 years of leading hundreds of thousands of grumbly Israelites through the wilderness, couldn’t he stand in the land that God promised? Couldn’t every sense take in the divine possession? Couldn’t he feel its grass and breathe its air and smell its cedars? Please? But the word of his great and mighty God held true. He would not enter the land, but would experience the heavenly fulfillment of earthly longing that faith enables. God’s grace was sufficient for the hard answer, the hope for the unseen, the waiting for glory. (Numbers 20:10-12; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 11:1)

Unmet longings can train us to reorient perspective and desire. While Moses wanted to take in the new land, along the way he’d taken in remarkable and life-enriching knowledge of God. The journey became opportunity, and he seized it wholeheartedly. He turned his own disappointment into potent instruction and rich worship. (Deuteronomy 4:32-40; 34:10-12)
What unfulfilled longings in my life might God be using to develop my faith in Him? Where could temporal sight be transformed to spiritual sight? Where might long waiting become long worship? How has God used time I would not have orchestrated to work miracles in mind and circumstance I would never have dreamed? (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Lord, please translate my every longing to sure and robust faith. Fill and fulfill the number of my days so You are trusted and exalted. (Exodus 23:26; Psalm 38:9; 87:7)