For starters, you should know that the author of this blog is six months pregnant. The word “craving” has a whole new level of meaning, doesn’t it? People have been asking me “What are you craving?” expecting “pickles and ice cream” as my response! (That combo hasn’t crossed my mind yet, but I tell you what, bring me anything Mexican or a nice bowl of fruit and I will be happy all day long.)
What are you craving?
The fast-paced life we live keeps us from considering what our hearts hunger for in the deepest places.
Your first response to this crave question? ‘A few minutes alone’. ‘To watch the latest episode of my show uninterrupted’. ‘To finally be content.’ Maybe this resonates with you.
But there are cravings that can’t be ignored.
#1 Craving: To Belong
My husband stepped into a whole new world by becoming a youth pastor this year. I have the distinction of “pastor’s wife” now. Together, we have loved every minute.
On a Wednesday night gathering, I commonly hear girls say, “I don’t know if I fit” or “where do I belong?” No matter our age or how confident and cool we appear, the appetite to belong is often unsatisfied.
God created us with this craving to belong but He also provided the answer. Within Christ is the perfect sense of belonging. Being God’s child is just the beginning. We are welcomed into a family of believers, all of heaven celebrates us and God has places love in our hearts to welcome others in as well.
Will you receive belonging to God as ‘enough’ to satisfy this craving? Let the revelation of this gift sink deeper in your soul than ever before. Instead of stuffing in its place friends, a boyfriend, a school or church – let God’s acceptance of YOU grow in your heart. Let it be enough. Everything else could be stripped away and still, you would have peace in belonging. God eternally remains the truest answer to this craving.
1 John 3:1 “How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!”
John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
#2 Craving: To Be Loved
I recently heard a married couple casually talk about their journey of dating, and wondering if that person was it. Between the laughter and stories, she shared honestly, “I always thought about what to wear and smothered layers of makeup on when I knew I’d see him. Once we started talking about marriage I suddenly realized, ‘He hasn’t seen me without makeup! Will he still like me?’ Images of waking up extra early to get ‘made up’ ran through her mind. She wasn’t convinced she would be lovable even when he saw her plain self. Her fiancé assured her that make-up wasn’t the reason he fell in love with her!
Tied very snuggly around belonging is our immoveable desire to be loved. This craving should not be unmet for long periods of time or else the human soul grows extremely dim. God designed us for love. But, with a world so unkind, we need to look to Someone greater to fulfill this need.
God Himself is love. In order to meet this craving, we must allow Him to become bigger in our eyes, His word more influential in our hearts, than anything else that surrounds us.
I like this passage in John 7:37-38 where is says that, “Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink!The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”
Imagine Jesus ‘crying out’ this truth and the heart-felt conviction that must have inspired it. The thirstiest people on earth are those who feel unloved. Jesus, who personifies love, declares boldly that he wants to answer that need. Not only that, but His Spirit of love will flow like a river deep within, constantly bringing refreshing and satisfying the longing.
#3 Craving: To Have Purpose
The amazing thing about this craving is you already have a purpose! We can crave it but it’s already inside of us. We’ve got to uncover it. Inside of Christ, we are chosen and called to be ‘children of light’, expressing His love to the world. What a purpose!
Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light – for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness and truth – discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.”
God has given you a certain job or ‘calling’, too. It could be a specific as helping single moms find cars or translating the Bible into an uncommon language! Finding the specific purpose that God has placed inside of you starts with getting to know God personally. We become captured by His goodness and finally surrender to His plan as we get to know Him. It’s when you see through His eyes that you understand who you are made to be.
-Elissa
What craving rises to the top inside of you? Send me your comments!
