Satisfaction in Jesus: A Question to Ask Yourself
I’m not thinking about how to find satisfaction in Jesus as the wind rustles the maple leaves.
However, as I open my Bible for inspiration on the warm afternoon, I discover stumble a surprising scene. A blind man named Bartimaeus is crying out to Jesus from the roadside.
Stopping, Jesus looks at blind Bartimaeus and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”
For an instant, I imagine I am the blind man, and Jesus is asking me this question.
“Jesus, you know what I want you to do for me,” I whisper in the deepest part of my soul.
As the words leave my lips, I realize Jesus isn’t asking this question for himself. He is asking for my benefit.
A Question for Deeper Satisfaction in Jesus
Maybe Jesus wants me to take a hard look at what I really want. Perhaps my truest desires are deeper than the surface-level supplications that often make up my prayers.
On the surface, I want more energy. I’m desperate for the youngest to sleep through the night. I crave greater joy. I want to yell less at my kids, worry less about the chaotic condition of the house, and embrace quiet moments of motherhood.
As the maples dance to the chorus of the robins, I sense a deeper longing within me.
Jesus wants to know what I want on a gut level, in the place where I open wide the doors of my soul and let all my neediness and vulnerability show in his presence.
This is a scary place for most of us. We feel out of control, needy, and way too dependent. We feel weak.
However, Jesus wants our deepest longings. He wants to free us from the behaviors we use to distract ourselves from our true desires. Jesus wants to heal our perfectionism, compulsive behaviors, good works, and escapist behavior patterns.
I breathe with the maples and name my longing. I long to be nurtured.
It feels way too vulnerable to admit to this but also freeing. Safe.
I feel as if my soul has been wrapped in a blanket. It’s a covering that feels soft, tender, and full of goodness and mercy.
The Question to Help You Find Satisfaction in Jesus
What if you paused to ponder this same question?
Don’t scramble for a quick answer. Instead, let the question simmer in the deepest part of you. Let it sink beyond the immediate needs and stir your soul.
What do you really want?
A greater sense of purpose . . .
Reassurance that you are doing a good job . . .
Freedom in the places where you feel stuck . . .
A break . . .
A touch of love that will cast out the fear you’ve been facing . . .
Physical healing that extends to soul-level healing . . .
Peace that passes understanding . . .
Space to breathe, to be absolutely still . . .
What Satisfaction in Jesus Looks Like
When we are honest with the Lord about our deepest longings, we open ourselves for deeper healing. We break down the walls that protect our soft inner selves, and we experience true intimacy with the Lord.
If we never take the time to be honest with ourselves about our deepest longings, we will fail to open our hearts to receive the most precious gifts the Lord wants to give us: gifts like his gentle, nurturing embrace; healing from past and present wounds; affirmation; stillness; courage to keep fighting life’s battles.
Will you sit with the question for ten minutes today and see what comes to the surface in your heart and mind? You might be surprised by what you discover.
Practical Ways to Connect With Jesus:
If you find a longing to slow your rhythms and nurture your weary soul in the presence of the Lord, here are a few ideas:
Take a slow walk down the road and collect an array of wildflowers for a vase on your table.
Sit by a creek and watch the water flow.
Listen to a few minutes of praise music while resting in a comfortable place.
Read a Psalm.
Take a short walk around the yard and admire God’s creation.
Hold a mug of your favorite hot beverage and watch the sunset.
Regardless of how you answered the question about what you want Jesus to do for you, the first step to wholeness is often acknowledging the inner state of your soul in the presence of the Lord.
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