The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:17 NKJV
I had the American Dream, and yet my heart felt empty. I had a handsome husband and a beautiful baby and a home of my own. Yet peace eluded me. I had everything I thought would make me happy, and yet depression nibbled at the edges of my emotions. Why could I not find contentment?
I had a cross-shaped hole in my heart that another baby and a bigger house was never going to fill. Often, we attempt to stuff worldly things (people, addictions, etc.) into that cross-shaped hole in our hearts, but they will never fit. God created that hole in our hearts for Him and Him alone.
We all have a longing for intimacy that God placed in our hearts, because He longs to be in relationship with us. Our Heavenly Father longs for us even more than we long for Him. God created this hunger in our hearts to draw us to Himself. We are made for Oneness with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yet, our human nature attempts to fill that cross-shaped hole with other things.
The world’s intimacy is temporary and inferior . . . and it comes with shame. Shame drives us into more sin and away from God. It is a tactic of the enemy to separates us from God. When we settle for the enemy’s false intimacy, it distances us from real intimacy. Jesus wants to give us a real intimacy that leaves no shame or regret.
Intimacy was God’s idea, His design, His desire. That cross-shaped hole in our hearts is God’s invitation to intimacy with Himself.
I finally accepted God’s invitation to intimacy. I got back into church and rededicated my life to Christ. I formed a Bible study for young mothers, like me. I surrounded myself with mothers and fathers in the faith to mentor me. I fixed my eyes on Jesus and stopped grasping for contentment, . . . and it found me. All I did was reach for the cross.
Are you hungering for things that do not satisfy? Reach for the cross instead. God promises to satisfy the longing of your heart with His very Presence.
Father, thank You for that cross-shaped hole in my heart that drew me into Your presence. Amen!