My journey as a Christian began at 12 years old. 12 years
old is young, and being raised in a good home, I wasn’t really ever faced with
any pressing temptations. I believed in Jesus, but I wasn’t really following
Him – and I definitely know there is a difference.
My journey through high school and college consisted of a constant
need for fulfillment – I wanted to be known for something. In high school, I
wanted to be the good one. I wanted to be recognized for being upright, pure,
and unblemished. But, it was never about Christ – it was always about myself. I
wanted to make sure that I was the one that had it all together.
College was a different story. Because my foundation was not
firm, I searched for fulfillment in a lot. Life wasn’t really about having this
“good” front anymore. I looked for satisfaction in every aspect of my life. I
wanted to be smartest one, and prove my intellect. I wanted to be the most
beautiful one, the most desirable. I wanted to have the most expensive clothes,
be the most fit, have the best this, the best that. I had to drive the luxury car
and I was on a constant craving for attention. However, it was never enough for
me. With every new purchase, each would eventually get old, end
up pushed in the back of my closet. The empty relationships were fun at first, but
eventually they got old too. I
would constantly find with each purchase, mistake or another night out on the
town, I would wake up feeling just as empty as before. For me, this is what fulfillment looked like.
But, think about it. Don’t we all have these longings? When we’re sad, we turn to things to fill us up, right? Whether it is
excessive exercise, chocolate, another person, alcohol, addictions, we all look
for something to satisfy the soul – to take away the pain. We’re all looking
for something. Whether it be reassurance, a compliment, a relationship, we all just want to be
filled. And the great thing is we were meant to be filled! We were created to need something!
I can confidently tell you that there is only ONE way to
truly satisfy the soul’s longings. Am I saying that the things that I mentioned
above are not good things? Absolutely not! I think education is good, as well
as fitness, clothes, relationships, etc. But, I do know that there is only one
thing that will give you that fulfillment you are looking for, and that is
Jesus Christ.
“But, HOW DO YOU
KNOW?” Trust me, I understand the frustration sometimes. I know that
looking to something that you cannot see for that fulfillment can be difficult
to grasp. However, all I have to do is look at the change that has taken place
in my heart to know how REAL it really is. All I have to tell you is the peace
and the joy and the satisfaction that comes from knowing Him. Does this mean I never look at nice cars and
clothes and things and not want that? Does this mean I don’t still have
that urge for a relationship, marriage, and family? Heck no! BUT, it is knowing
that in those things I will never find true and complete fulfillment. Those
things will never provide to me my absolute satisfaction. There is only one
thing in the world that can provide that, and that is Jesus Christ. If you
haven’t made the step to let Him fill you up, I encourage you to take it today!
In Him, there is peace. There is no longer the need to
continue to strive and accumulate, and gather, and try so hard, striving for
things that will only continue to disappoint. And OH how tiring it gets! I know
how tiring it is to constantly need to have more and more, or try harder and
harder. The good news: Jesus is the only thing in my life that I have found that doesn’t grow
old to me. He's the only thing that won't grow old after a week or two - He is constantly new and exciting and fulfilling and satisfying! Let Him be that for you too!
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