Have you ever gone grocery shopping on an empty stomach? Everything on the shelves seems irresistible. Yet, the next day, as you unpack your pantry, you find yourself questioning those choices.
Hunger is a signal—our body’s way of crying out for nourishment. Ignore it, and it will grow louder until addressed. But the kind of food we choose can either satisfy or leave us longing for more.
Hunger isn’t just physical. Desire and longing are the hunger of the heart. And just like physical hunger, they can be misinterpreted or misdirected.
The Tension of Thanksgiving
During this season of thanksgiving, we often feel a tension. We tell ourselves to be content, yet deep inside, we still long for something more. Advertisements promise satisfaction through the latest products, and we may even indulge, only to discover that they don’t satisfy the deeper need within us.
I invite you to sit with that tension. Don’t rush to resolve it. Instead, explore what lies beneath. What if that longing is not a flaw but a signal from your heart, a call to be fully alive?
As Irenaeus of Lyons once said:
“The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”
The Heart’s True Desire
What does it mean to be fully alive? We’ve been conditioned to believe that fulfillment comes through achievements, possessions, or experiences. But the heart’s deepest longing is not for things—it is for God’s presence.
Consider the union Adam had with God in the Garden of Eden. Humanity was created for communion with the Creator, and our DNA still carries that longing. The psalmists captured this desire beautifully:
- “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.” (Psalm 42:1-2)
- “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land.” (Psalm 63:1)
- “I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.” (Psalm 84:2)
- “All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God.” (Isaiah 26:9)
The Longing for Words of Life
Not only does the heart long for God’s presence, but it also longs for His words of life. Jesus, described as the Logos in John 1, is the living Word. His words give life and understanding in ways nothing else can.
Story: Émile Cailliet, a soldier in WWII, sought meaning in the chaos of life. After years of collecting wisdom and philosophy, he created a personal book of understanding, only to feel empty when reading it. When he encountered the Bible for the first time, he exclaimed, “Finally, a book that understands me!”
The longing of his heart was not for human words but for the living Word of God.
Seeking First His Kingdom
Jesus speaks directly to our heart’s desires in Matthew 6:33:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
The Greek word for “seek” implies an intentional, persistent search. It’s not passive but active, fueled by a longing to find true life and satisfaction. Jesus warns us that worldly distractions—money, fame, power—will tempt us. But only His Kingdom can fulfill the deepest longing of our hearts.
As the prodigal son discovered, seeking satisfaction in the wrong places only leads to emptiness. Yet even in our wandering, Jesus pursues us, whispering through our desires: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
