EMPTY SHELL

At one time, we cooked a loaf a bread every day for our family.  I used a bread machine, so it wasn’t hard.  It became routine to throw the ingredients in the maker and hit start.  By evening, we would have a fresh loaf of bread to complement our meal.  As you know, the more you eat of a certain food, the more you crave it.  After making a loaf of bread every day for weeks, our taste buds began salivating when we came in smelled the aroma of bread baking.

One spring day we started the bread machine and went to work outside.  Because Benny and I would have a full loaf by lunch, we planned to add a little leftover meat and make that our meal.  We were tired and hungry when lunchtime hit and sat down to eat.  Little did we know, Xavier had eaten the whole inside of the loaf out and left the crust.  So when we cut into the bread, we got nothing but shell…our longing for fresh, hot bread was crushed, our hunger left unsatisfied, and our moods frustrated.

Envisioning steaming hot bread while we worked raised our anticipation of lunch.  When those desires were not filled, we were disappointed, and rightfully so.  Sometimes in life we have longings and desires that occupy our minds and hearts.  We plan for them, fantasize about them, and “dream of the day.”  Then for some unbeknownst reason, when the desire is fulfilled or the dream comes true, it falls short and we wonder why. 

**All my longings lie open before You, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from You.   Psalm 38:9 

“Our longings will point the way to God every single time. Each longing in my life that I have discovered, or that has discovered me, drives me to confront a truth that I may not have confronted otherwise: I am thirsty for God. Desperately thirsty. Just like the woman at the well. Thirsty, still drawing the same old water, but longing for the Living Water.” — Johnson, Nicole. Fresh-Brewed Life Revised and Updated. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

While we wait on the eternal, though, we must live the life God gave us.  Just as the bread was only a shell of a loaf, using temporary things like food, movies, books, shopping or money to fill the void have a short shelf life.  God instills in us the desire for more.  We all have dreams that will bring us joy when fulfilled, within the boundaries of the Bible.  Whether writing for the public, going back to school, opening a small business, or learning a new hobby, we can gain joy and satisfaction from fulfilling those dreams.  We just need to remember to do everything for the glory of God, and in His timing.

Benny and I have dreams and desires.  We are following a plan to make those dreams a reality, to the best of our ability.  We desire our kiddos to grow into Godly, successful adults.  We dream of grandkids someday.  We envision retirement on the farm.  But we also know they will never completely satisfy our souls.  Only God can do that.  We must stay connected to the faucet of Living Water.

What dreams or desires do you have?

What lies in the back of your heart hidden because you think you’ll “never see the day?”

What God-given talent do you possess that you love to do that you put into practice for His glory?

Digging into our souls and finding those hidden dreams and desires will be a process.  They didn’t sprout overnight and digging them up by their roots may be tough, even painful at times.  Ask God for wisdom and His will in these things.   Stand up and face those fears and voices that will no doubt discourage you and try to hold you back.  Stay connected to Him through His Word and prayer.  Listen to Him.  Follow His lead.  Make a plan and pray about it.

“Our souls never find their rest until they find it in God.” – Saint Augustine

LORD, today I ask that You help us dig up the desires that You created within each of us.  If it is hidden deep in our heart, help us work through digging them up by the roots.  Show us how best to move forward and begin a plan to fulfill this dream for Your glory.  Remind us that we were made for more.  Our eternal desires will never be completely satisfied on this earth by anything or anyone other than You.  Be our daily bread.  As we sit down at Your table, give us the whole loaf, not just the shell.  Help us stay connected to You, LORD, the Living Water.   Give us rest for our weary souls and renew our heart’s desires, making them fresh within us.  Amen

**As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  Psalm 42:1–2

**May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  Psalm 20:4

AS THE DEER