At fourteen years old, I wrote in my journal that all I wanted was someone who completely understood me.
I am a people person, without a doubt. I am very interested in people and I care greatly about others. I not only desperately need people, I also want people- I deeply desire closeness, sharing, acceptance, support, and attention. I am a relationships person.
There are so many ways our need for relationship can go wrong in this world. Because I crave relationships so deeply, while growing up I pursued some unhealthy ways of making them work: mostly people pleasing, fixing, and finding my identity in others. Though I had wonderful friends and family who were loving me the best they could, I was never satisfied.
It wasn't until I came to Christ that I realized that He was the one who completely understood me. As my walk has grown, I have realized that the Lord is so much more than just someone who gets me; He is my hope and my source of life. Relationship with Him is completely fulfilling.
Something I have recently found especially beautiful about the character of our triune God is that He fulfills many roles. For those of us craving relationship, He calls himself so many names that fill those holes. Whatever type of connection we are longing for, He can fill.
He is our Father.
"I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty".
-2 Corinthians 6:18
He is our Lover.
"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." -Song of Solomon 4:7
He is our Sibling.
"Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother". -Mark 3:35
He is our Friend.
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15
He is our Teacher.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." -Psalm 32: 8
He loves us with a Mother's Heart.
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." -Isaiah 49:15
That person that we long to be understood by, comforted by, encouraged by- it is Him.
That perfect, all-encompassing love we long for- it is in Him.
He tells you directly:
You are precious in my eyes
and Honored
and I love you
Isaiah 43:4
It means so much to me that God speaks to us through scripture exactly those words so many of us long to hear-- "I love you". And He does.
Beside you at Sweet to the Soul-I am pretty sure I would have written something very similar to the words you penned at fourteen. I am grateful to have met the only One who can love me with such completeness. The way you wrote out the verses I can hear the desire in the Lord's voice to assure us so we are confident in His love. I guess so we do not chase after other lovers... glad to meet you here today.
ReplyDeleteI think women especially have such a deep desire to be completely known and loved. So thankful that God made us that way knowing He can meet that need.
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by Jeannie, glad to meet you too!
Beautiful post. I really felt the love of God in what you shared. Glad I stopped by!
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting from the 'Wise Woman' link-up. : )
Thank you so much Cathy. It is such an encouragement to know God is using our writing to bless others with His love!
DeleteDear Kelsey, you are a wonderful person and I admire your heart. But most times our insatiable desires can be found only in Christ. That emptiness we may feel can be filled up with His love.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you broke down all the relationship we find in Christ Jesus. He satifis our every desire.
God Bless Kelsey.
How beautiful it is when we find those deep needs are met in His love!! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, they really bless me!
DeleteVisiting you from CoffeeformyHeart. I am blessed by your rich descriptions and Bible verses of God's relationship to us. I am glad I visited, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Sandra, and thank you for the encouragement. Take care!
DeleteKelsey, I'm your neighbor today at Sweet to the Soul! This is my first visit to your page. It's beautiful hear, and I love your heart for the Lord!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Ellen!
DeleteGreat post, powerful reminders how He can fill any gap that comes in or life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a beautiful and encouraging post! I just LOVED the scripture you chose!
ReplyDelete