It’s true we don’t get everything we want. Even when we pray earnestly, some desires are left unfulfilled. And we must be very careful with how we handle our heart toward God in these moments.
Of course, even as children there were many things we wished for that we didn’t get. And part of maturity is learning to set realistic expectations.
But there are deep desires we still carry with us and find expression in many different ways.
Perhaps we pray for a particular breakthrough at work or for the success of a certain relationship. Or maybe for our application to be viewed favorably or for a unique and special moment with someone we love.
We’ve checked our hearts, and this is not mere childhood fantasy – wishful thinking unlikely to take place in the real world.
The desire itself is good. It seems aligned with God’s call for our life and it feeds our souls at the same time.
And this is part of what makes it so difficult and painful when it goes unfulfilled. We’re asking for something good and it seems like God is holding out on us. And this leaves our hearts struggling with how to respond.
Often, we’re tempted to kill the desire because it’s just too painful to hold onto unfulfilled. And we might also try to take matters into our own hands to fulfill the desire on our terms rather than waiting on God.
But either way, our heart starts to question if we can truly trust God with our desires.
What’s hard to remember is that God’s ways are much higher than our ways. And he’s telling a much larger story that operates on a different timeline than our own.
Those deep desires of our heart might come later or in a way totally unexpected. The particulars we want today are stirring our souls for something much greater – perhaps in this life, or maybe the next.
To be sure, it still stings when we don’t have what we want today. But we live in hope – trusting God’s goodness for us personally.
God has not forgotten. He sees the desires of your heart and will bless you with all good things at just the right time.
Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash
