Psalm 34:8a- “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!” Though I’ve read this verse many times, I hadn’t really experienced it until recently.  Throughout my life, I’ve sought my fulfillment and tried to gain contentment in things other than Christ, such as success, popularity, and relationships.  Every time I sought satisfaction in people or things, I always found myself disappointed, disillusioned, and defeated. 

Recently, though, I’ve had to ask myself: Do I want God more than I want the world? Is there anything I am not willing to give up for Him? Is God truly enough? Am I willing to lose everything for the name of Christ and let Him capture and control all areas of my heart, being, and life? I began to realize that if I am seeking after things in this world, I’ll never truly seek after Him. 

As I asked the Lord to satisfy me, He began to teach me that true satisfaction comes with allowing Him to meet the deepest needs of my soul.  Satisfaction in God is being more excited about His glory than my own.  Satisfaction is treasuring Him above all else.  Satisfaction is when the things that used to charm me and distract me no longer hold power in my life.   Satisfaction is being willing to give up anything to better experience intimacy with Him.  These words, spoken by Amy Carmichael, sum it up well:

“We who love our Lord and whose affections are set on Heavenly things voluntarily and gladly lay aside the things that charm and ravish the world, that, for our part, our hearts may be ravished with the things of Heaven that our whole being may be poured forth in constant and unreserved devotion in the service of the Lord who died to save us.”

Though I wanted this satisfaction so badly, I found that it came not with striving, but with seeking.  As I asked the Lord to satisfy me and fill me, He taught me that I will only be truly fulfilled by Him when I deliberately and diligently guard my time with Him through daily delighting in and meditating on His word.  As His Word was burned into my heart, my affections were set on something so much higher; once I tasted His goodness, the things of this world paled in comparison.  As His Word began to take priority and precedence in my life, He began to root out the other idols in my heart that were taking the place only He deserved.  Another effect of satisfaction is that I am more empowered to serve and love others without reserve or concern for self.   If I ask Him to fill me in the morning, I’m not seeking fulfillment from others or trying to get something from them.  Rather, I can love them as an overflow of God’s love in me.

True satisfaction is not found in a boyfriend, friendships, success, or popularity.  It is found in Christ alone.  Seek it in no other place.