The Quest For More

We are on a quest to get more. We want more money, bigger houses, grander vacations, more sleep, and more attention from others. Nothing seems to fill us. It is like eating the biggest and best Thanksgiving dinner, only to want more.

In John 4:13-14 Jesus says, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We are plagued with the thirst for more, never fully satisfied with what we have or do. Jesus promises to satisfy our thirst so that we will never thirst for more again. When the thirst for more comes into our hearts and minds, we can turn to Jesus, listen to Him, and follow Him wherever He leads. We will find springs of eternal life.

Brushed Off

When we share our struggles with friends, they may make light of them or try to top our troubles with a detailed explanation of their own. When this happens, we can become discouraged and feel like our troubles are not significant in the eyes of other people.

Psalm 56:8 says, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” Other people may belittle how you feel. On the other hand, God knows and understands our feelings. He brings truth and healing for us in our sufferings.

When I Am Weak

The apostle Paul had something in his life that was distressing to him. Whether it was some habitual sin, personal weakness, or illness, it is not disclosed. He asked God to remove it three times. God did not take away this distressing issue from Paul, but rather told Paul that it remains with him so that God’s grace would be revealed.

II Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” When we are sad, God’s grace encourages us. When we are weak, God’s grace gives us strength. When we are fearful, God’s grace gives us courage. When we worry, God’s grace gives us peace. Whatever we are going through, God’s grace gives us what we need to keep going.

Touched by Compassion

When we witness an act of kindness and compassion, it stirs our emotions. We are deeply touched because we understand both the receiver and the giver. The giver is moved by feeling and knowing the need of the person who receives compassion. The receiver is emotionally moved by someone acknowledging them and understanding their needs, and making the sacrifice to meet those needs.

Psalm 103:13-14 says, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD show compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” God demonstrates compassion for us, because He knows us intimately. He knows our thoughts and understands our weaknesses and needs. He alone has the power, and is moved by compassion, to give us what we need and what we truly desire.

Unpaid Debt

When we cannot repay a debt, we can expect certain things to happen. We may hear from the lender and have discussions about repaying the debt in some form. If we still cannot repay, the loan collateral may be impounded or forfeited by us to the lender. Our credit rating will decline, making it harder to obtain other loans. We will not receive the same favor from lenders and sellers.

Psalm 103:10-12 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Christians are far from being perfect, but we are forgiven through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. His blood covers our sins and removes them far from us. We are no longer condemned to wrath, but are now justified before our Heavenly Father. Our debt to our Father was paid in full by the Son.