"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."*
So much of life we spend looking forward to something. When we are at school it might be a favourite subject. When we are working Monday to Friday, we might look forward to the weekend. When we are at uni, we look forward to getting into the workforce. When we are in the workforce, we look forward to retirement, or annual holidays. When we are single, we look forward to marriage. When we are married, we loook forward to children. When we are travelling, we might look forward to the next destination.
The saying 'the grass is greener on the other side' does not mean that it actually is greener, more lush, restful, healthy.... Rather, I think, the saying highlights how unsatisfied we can be with what we have. This can be a materialistic longing. But in this post I also want to explore the idea of being satisfied where we are in time.
There is an ancient Jewish proverb:
"All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied."**
It is obvious to us that we have to eat several times a day to keep us going. In this day and age, we don't (just) work for our bread, but we still enjoy satisfying other desires, wants and needs. So often they do not satisfy... for long. Similarly, we seek to do things which will bring us the most happiness, or fun, or joy, or thrill! I have found that that is what travelling for fun is mostly about. Going to places I want to visit, eating the food I want to try, exploring the sights of cities that I find interesting. If I spend my time in one church, wondering what the next one will look like. Or being in a city, and wishing I was already in the next. Or staying in a hostel, and wishing I was in a home. Or re-packing my backpack and dreaming of my wardrobe... How am I satisfied? I can't even appreciate what is around me, and in the city, and part of the experience if I keep thinking of where else I could be...
But truth be told, I really do miss my wardrobe, and wonder what is happening back home, and who I will meet next week... By myself, I cannot ever find lasting satisfaction. There is no person or place or thing that could completely satisfy me. There is only One who can satisfy, the living and good God. He can satisfy our hearts and minds, and fill our lives with so many good things!*
God does this in the form, and through, his Son Jesus, who offers water that will mean we will never be thirsty again! The Son of God promises that, "whever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."***
The Old Testament song of David, reminds us to remind ourselves that only this way can we be satisfied:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.****
*Psalm 107:9
**Ecclesiastes 6:7
***John 4:13-14
****Psalm 103:2-5 
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