Abundantly Satisfied

Change is often hard. Some changes are good, like starting a new job or getting married. Then again, some kinds of change seem really bad, like the death of a loved one. This last year we’ve had to deal with a lot of change, adapting constantly to new guidelines we may or may not agree with. But even in the midst of a pandemic, life doesn’t stop completely. In the past year, my oldest graduated high school and left for college, and my youngest got his driver’s license and a car. I started a new job, a new manuscript, and have some new volunteer responsibilities. Lots of change.

Often, during change, we question God, thinking we know better than Him. He must be mistaken or not care about us. Even in the midst of all this change, I am expecting more change to come in my life.

While change can be hard, waiting for change can also be very difficult. Again, we must know better than God, right? Why did He wait twenty years for salvation for your loved one? Why did it take two years to find the perfect job? Why is it taking so long to move past this pandemic?

This morning, as I once again reminded God of all that I was waiting for from Him, I read Psalm 36. As I read, I prayed He would show me something in those words. And He did.

“(We) are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give (us) drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:8-9

Joy and peace filled me as I read these words. I have the ability to be abundantly satisfied, above and beyond satisfied, with all the goodness God wants to give me. But there’s more. I realized the “drink from the river of (His) pleasures” did not say the river of my pleasures. You see, God has great things in store for His children, even greater things than we could think. Our job is to remember this and allow Him to feed us and satisfy us with those things, allowing our fleshly, worldly desires to fall away. When we become willing to accept His plan, His timing, His goodness, only then can we become content and abundantly satisfied in Him. I encourage and challenge you today, whatever is happening in your life, whatever changes are taking place (or not taking place), allow yourself to be filled and satisfied with the pleasures that only come from our loving Father. Enjoy the fountain of life in Him.