Deep Longings

Deep longings, longings that cannot find their satisfaction except in God alone. Passion is only emotion unless it is fired with the Holy Spirit and given purpose and action. Deep longings can be frustrating and hurtful if not given back to God and allowed to be accomplished in His timing. He is the one who gives passion and deep longing. He is the one who gives dreams and vision. He is the one who speaks to us of the future that only He can accomplish. 

Joseph and David in the scriptures are both examples of this truth. Both were given great promises. They both had to wait years to see the Lord accomplish what He wanted to achieve in them. It is He that knows the plans that He has for us. It is His pleasure that is accomplished when He gives vision to a person, then waits for them to grow in real faith. They move from passion to desire to fervor, and even measured success to frustration when set on the shelf. But Jesus is still looking, He is still actively working. Actively calling and preparing for the time when He plans to release. He is looking for the fulfillment of the plans he has for you, because in them the church is strengthened and made more beautiful for Jesus. 

However, He is patient with His own working. He wants sons who realize they are sons first. He wants men and women who love Him with all of their heart. He wants us to know Him, not spend their time preparing for ministry. Ministry cannot be the goal. Jesus said that on the last day there would be some who said to Him Lord, Lord and He would say that He did not know them. They responded that they had cast out demons in His name and did all kinds of other things that would seem impressive. Jesus’ response was that He did not know them; then He sent them away. 

He wants friends, sons and daughters of God who love Him and then do what He tells them to do because they know what He wants. He wants us to know His heart and His love. He wants to express His desires through His people to those who do not know Him, and He wants to build and equip His church in the same way; through those who understand what He wants, and they want the same thing. 

There is a passage in the OT that says, “Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." (ESV)

It would be easy to want to have a working relationship with the Lord, because it doesn’t take as much time. Take your passion and dreams and just go do it. On the other hand, beauty comes from much toil and hard work. In the book of Acts, Luke is giving the narrative of Paul and Barnabas return to the churches they started on the first of the journeys. Paul tells them that through much tribulation we enter the kingdom of God.  Dross makes silver and gold ugly, its beauty is exposed when great sustained heat is added. Great pressure creates diamonds from coal. Great irritation and pain causes the beauty of pearls. In the same way trials test faith, and tested faith produces endurance. If we let endurance have its complete work we will be mature, not lacking in anything. So James encourages us to rejoice when we fall into trials of varying kinds. 

These desires and deep longings can be those trials that cause endurance and steadfastness. God wants us to grow sturdy with roots that grow deep so that when trials and temptations come, we can resist. 

In the waiting, wisdom would say. “Do not forget what God has said, do not be lax in faith. Strengthen yourself in faith. Ask your soul why it is so downcast and tell it to praise the Lord. Remember that you were once dead in sin and you were made alive with Christ. You are seated in heavenly places with Him. You are a son. Find your ultimate fulfillment in sonship. Being called a son in which God has adopted you and given you all of the riches that Jesus, the great son, has. What a privilege. Even if nothing else comes; even if there is no accomplishment of the calling and dreams, be satisfied with sins forgiven. Be content with being filled with the Holy Spirit, be satisfied with seeking Jesus and finding Him. Be exhilarated by the presence of God with you. Give in to being overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit everyday, and then move in what He tells you to do. Enjoy loving the church and seeing what God sees about her. 

It is so tempting to crawl back into that hole of frustration that I feel when I am stirred by what is going on around me and want to be a part of it so badly, but cannot. So what do you do when you feel this way. You remember who you are, who you were made to be and you encourage yourself in the Lord. You stand firm in what is absolutely true and you resist the temptation of the enemy to derail you and set you off on another course. In due time, God’s time, He will do what He intends to do with what He has put in you. So seek Him, love Him, and learn to embrace the offer of friendship that He has given.