Are You Missing That One Thing That Brings True Happiness?

By Rebekah Montgomery
 

Be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5b, 6-NIV

 

No matter how much we possess, beneath the skin lurks a secret fear: "I might be missing that one thing that will bring me true happiness."

 

"That one thing" may change from time to time. One day it might be a house, a lover, a mate, a job, a child, an accomplishment, a diploma, a car, or breast implants. The next day it may be fame, success, or even a trinket.

 

Lust for "that one thing" can fester and itch, often compelling us to sacrifice everything in order to scratch. However, when the light of the Word shines upon the thing we passionately desire, we see it for what it is: a substitute for God.

 

The itch that cannot be scratched, the desire that cannot be satisfied, the thirst that cannot be assuaged, and the fire that cannot be quenched will tease and entice you, but never be gratified here on this earth unless it is recognized for what it is: the idol of self-gratification.

 

Worshipping the idol of self-gratification can destroy you even as you stand in the presence of God.

 

In eternity past, Lucifer learned this standing next to the throne of God. Dubbed "son of the morning" because his beauty and power was supreme among the angels, he had it all — except for the image of God. His lust for this final honor led him to rebel against the Almighty. In the end, he lost his glory, his ranking, as well as his position before the throne.

 

Because Lucifer spawned our fallen nature, no matter how much we have, we crave what we do not have — another person's mate, a beauty different from our own, the forbidden fruit, a promotion we didn't receive, the Jones' house, car, job, or vacation. While we reach for the itch, the One who is our Friend by His own initiative stands by, waiting for acknowledgement.

 

Everything King David had — power, land, wives, skill — came from Him. Everything Lucifer had — power, position, beauty — came from Him. And everything you have comes from Him, too.

 

In His grief at the chaos David wrought by his coveting his neighbor's wife, God tells him, "If you had asked Me for more, I would have given it."

 

Then there is that other problem: We secretly fear that if God gives blessing to someone else, He just may not have enough goodness and grace to extend to us.

 

Nothing could be farther from the truth! In a display of almost unbelievable generosity, God has offered Himself to be your Helper, to itch the places you cannot scratch, to satisfy the desires you cannot even name.

 

But the key is this: You need to recognize that beneath surface and what masquerades as the answer to your needs, He is what you desire. When we relinquish the idol that we thought would satisfy us, and desire Him first and most, the fear of missing out on life will vanish.

 

Jesus addressed this: "Whoever loses his life for Me will find it." And "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him."

 

Please read Hebrews 13 1-6 in its entirety. Also see Psalms 118:6, Joshua 1:5, 2 Samuel 12, Matthew 16:24-27-NIV, Matthew 7:7-12-NIV.