Jim Martin at "A Place for the God-Hungry" has an arresting quote up from Gordon McDonald at What God-Hungry People Need.
The hole in our hearts cannot be filled, the pain cannot be healed, by any activity or medication. We were made to know, experience and worship God. What if He allows us to be hurt, to experience this sadness, to draw us to the only ultimate fulfillment which is God himself? What would be the result if we learn to run to god in our pain, rather than withdraw? What if we learned (as the psalmists did) to take and express all our sadness to Him?
Isn't that what God-hungry people would do?
“After listening to stories for many years, I can tell you this: almost without exception, every person’s story is marked with pockets of deep, deep sadness and tragedy. Lots of stuff that never gets surfaced in the course of normal church life.” (Leadership Journal, Spring 2008, p. 94)Jim goes on the say:
When I read these lines in the article, I paused and then read them again. These words are very, very true. Within us all, there are places of sadness. For some that sadness is associated with a deep disappointment of some kind. Others have experienced a significant moment of humiliation or shame. Others have experienced a tragedy, sometimes due to the behavior of others.That's a good question. If we accept the premise, and I think it probably is true, what are Christians to do with their deepest sadnesses? Our culture is full of individuals who medicate their sadness with alcohol, drugs, pornography, recreational activities, work-o-holic activities, etc. Some even medicate with religious activity - and what a sour medicine that can be!
The question that I want to keep before me is: "What am I doing with this sadness?" Far too many people "act out" in various ways in order to somehow lessen or mask the pain. Others may act out in ways that result in a trail that is littered with hurt feelings, broken friendships, and burned bridges.
What do God-hungry people do? (This is the question I want to always be wrestling with.) God-hungry people know that what we need more than anything is God himself. ....
The hole in our hearts cannot be filled, the pain cannot be healed, by any activity or medication. We were made to know, experience and worship God. What if He allows us to be hurt, to experience this sadness, to draw us to the only ultimate fulfillment which is God himself? What would be the result if we learn to run to god in our pain, rather than withdraw? What if we learned (as the psalmists did) to take and express all our sadness to Him?
Isn't that what God-hungry people would do?
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