Restoration vs Relief

He blesses us with so much, and it is easy to turn to those blessings for comfort and relief. In those moments we are worshiping the creation over the creator.

June 7

My two greatest desires are at odds with each other. I want a peaceful, joyful, happy life. Free of strife, fear, and conflict. I want my relationships to be easy, intimate, and trustworthy. I also want enough time to accomplish all the projects I come up with and learn all the skills I want to have. Things like; play the piano and learn Hebrew, just to mention a few. This sounds like life in the garden to me.

I also desperately want to be a part of God’s greater story. I want to play an irreplaceable role in the things of God. I want to hear His voice. I want Him to tell me great and unsearchable things I do not know. I want to have the kind of relationship with God they tell stories about. Stories like John G. Lake, Mother Teresa, or Derek Prince.

My desire to have what would seem to be a perfect life just is not possible on this side of eternity. People are broken, wounded, and lost. This dynamic can cause a lot of conflicts. And there is simply not enough time to do all I want to do. We like to say that I am the author of my story, the captain of my ship, and in a lot of ways that is true, but God has a plan, and joining Him in His plan is a much better idea. I know God wants me to be happy, but I also know that I can’t truly be blissfully happy this side of eternity. I need to be whole and Holy. He needs to heal and restore the broken places in my heart. Left to our own devices we find ways to cope, ways to ease the disappointment, bring a little joy, but God wants to be our Joy. To be our everything. He blesses us with so much, and it is easy to turn to those blessings for comfort and relief. In those moments we are worshiping the creation over the creator. I want God to truly be my everything. No but’s. I am learning to let God protect my heart. I am learning to let God use the difficult moments of my life to bring restoration, instead of looking for temporary relief.