Fulfilled Longings: A Reason to Rejoice
Last week, I wrote about unfulfilled longings, using a toy I never got as a gift from my parents as an example. This week, I want to give my parents—and God—some credit. In the midst of longing for things I don’t yet have, the Lord has continuously granted me the desires of my heart in more ways than I can count.
One of the most memorable gifts I ever received as a child was on my thirteenth birthday. My parents bought me a bright red Schwinn road bicycle. Up to that point, I had ridden my brother’s old black Road Warrior bike, which had plain, worn-down, ribbed rubber handlebars and a brake function built into the pedals that required me to reverse pedal in order to stop. This Schwinn bike looked like the real deal. It had gear shifters and hand brakes and everything.
The craziest thing is I hadn’t asked for this bike for my birthday. I don’t remember what gifts I had requested, but my parents evidently knew better than I what I needed. That bike saw a lot of use over the course of about ten years before I upgraded as an adult. I rode the neighborhood. I rode the paved trails downtown. I rode when we took our bikes on vacation. Biking has always been a preferred form of exercise for me because it’s low-impact and works out my already creaky knees. Plus, there’s an ever-so-slight feeling of danger to riding a bike that really gets the adrenaline going, especially when you’re rushing down a steep hill and the wind is whipping past your cheeks.
I don’t ride my current bicycle very much right now (I probably ought to change that), and oftentimes, I forget I even have it.
What is it with us humans and longing for what we don’t have, while so conveniently forgetting what we do have?
I’ve had to constantly remind myself over the years to be grateful for having a roof over my head, food in my belly that I got to choose and could actually afford, a full-time job that I’m not afraid of losing (a nice change from the last two I had), family and friends who love me unconditionally, and even the not-so-insignificant fact that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again in victory over death.
My house (yet another blessing) is full of things that were given to me or that I was able to buy with my own money. I have a wonderful roommate who helps pay my mortgage and puts up with my more annoying little habits. I have a fluffy little dog who jumps for joy whenever I walk in the door. I have a smartphone and a reliable car.
This may sound braggadocious, but that’s not my intent. I want to clearly convey that God is responsible for all of it, and His generosity humbles me and causes me to want to pass on whatever blessings He has given me. I don’t ever want to take what He has given me for granted, though unfortunately I often contradict myself and do just that.
Psalm 23:1 rings true: “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.”
Do I think I’m lacking some things? Sure. I already hinted at that in my last blog post. If you know me, you know what some of things I most deeply desire are.
But God has always been faithful to provide for my needs, even though I don’t deserve it. And he has tested me with gratitude and patience many times over the years. I’m kind of glad of that, though. I don’t want to ever forget to be grateful and patient, and I’m fine if that means He has to test me every once in a while. According to the scripture I’ve been reading of late, Ancient Israel’s biggest problem was how often they forgot about God and what He had done for them. Their usual pattern was to chase after false gods and man-made idols. Humanity hasn’t changed much since that time—our idols have just gotten fancier and more subtle.
May we never forget how blessed we are! Having what we need is always a reason to rejoice.