Sex is generally thought of in terms of seeking physical pleasure, or perhaps even our desire to lovingly share a moment of intimacy with another. Either way, outside of moral boundaries, God is not typically connected to our sexual experiences. But, even at its best, sex is just a small glimpse of the sweet ecstasy we get to enjoy with God.
Of course, God gave us bodies to enjoy and we should freely delight in the various sensual pleasures of sex. Likewise, there’s no shame in fully basking in the joys of marital intimacy – freely giving each other an embodied experience of love. All the same, it’s helpful to consider what all these earthly images of sex are actually gesturing toward, namely union with God himself and the ecstasy of being in his presence.
Sex as a spiritual experience is often hard to put into words because there’s not the same concrete anchors to reference as when we’re describing physical or interpersonal experiences.
There might be a sense of wonder and mystery, being blessed or gifted, an intense union and transcendence, while also experiencing strong physical arousal. But even this arousal is not about sexual release per se. In fact, such pursuit might actually diminish the experience. In short, this is a sweet ecstasy that opens the door for us to taste the fullness of joy available in God’s presence beyond the immediate pleasures of our body, or from our wife. As desire, it’s a desire for nothing in particular, and yet for everything. No one person or experience will ever fully satisfy because this longing is ultimately for God’s infinite glory.
For many, this might seem too esoteric. But it’s helpful to know what’s possible and to better interpret experiences we might have otherwise dismissed.
In the end, there’s more to sex than we often consider. And moments of sweet ecstasy are reminders of the joy and pleasure available in God’s presence.
