A Lesson In Satisfaction

These past few weeks I’ve kept busy with cooking, cleaning, and repair projects around the house, not counting the time and energy I daily invest in my husband and kids. Without meaning to my morning devotional time began to slip. As the task list increased, it didn’t take long for me to begin skipping it altogether. 

I soon grew impatient, restless, insensitive and dissatisfied. I tried to fill the void growing inside me with things; a new dress, a book, a belt. They made me happy for a little while, but after hanging the dress in the closet, finishing the book and wearing the belt a few times I felt the same way again. 

One day as I was cleaning my Tupperware cupboard and dreaming up the next thing that might make me happy I was suddenly reminded of the words of Psalm 90:14. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

As I pondered these words I guiltily realized what I was doing. I was looking for satisfaction everywhere except in Him. 

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. 

Weren’t those the words Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well? Getting up I opened my Bible and found the words in John 4:13-14. 

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

This is true, I marveled. The material things of this world can’t satisfy me for long. I’ve experienced that first hand. 

Picking up my journal where for the past two years I’ve been recording my Bible memory verses I read these words:

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22& 23 

There was that love, joy, patience, gentleness, and peace I’d been missing lately! 

But God? I wondered. Isn’t my busyness legitimate? 

Remember Martha and Mary. 

I looked it up and found this recorded in Luke 10:38-42 

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

That answered that question! 

So now, every morning I once again spend time at His feet. 

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” I repeat softly as I sit. 

And He does.