"They Were Satisfied"?

That's the report from Matthew in chap. 14 vs. 20

Do I believe it? I do. Why?

This morning's recovery devo ("God Grant") opens with "Of course we do not always feel satisfied with our lives, the way things are going for us or the world. But this is true for almost everyone". Isn't THAT the truth?!

"They all ate and were satisfied". Was Judas? Was Peter immediately after he denied Jesus three times the night prior to the crucifixion? Was apostle Paul -before- he was let out of prison... or when as tradition states, he was likely executed at the hands of Rome? Well, my guess is Paul was due to his faith in Jesus and resurrection!

Are you or I truly and fully satisfied when we want to finally get whatever it is we desire... or when we don't seem to ever get it at all? Maybe just a little more, a bigger slice, for that lousy person over there to feel hurt like they hurt us- revenge? Oh it's easy to add to the list of not being satisfied regarding all sorts of things isn't it?

Dissatisfaction is so, so common. People gather together to lament, complain, gripe and trash-talk people and events they're not satisfied with and especially when it comes to their own lives. The reality is that such continual focus wears us down and out -and we may truly BE down and out and needing help, change, healing.

SO many suffer under a load of genuine injustice at the hands, policies and treatment and mistreatment or plain neglect from others. I get it and have been a life-long advocate for many in such situations. I've spoken, written and sung about it my whole life and have myself felt the sting from others. And yet and still...

The late Keith Green wrote and sang "It's so hard to see when my eyes are on me".

In a convo with a good and kind friend yesterday I mentioned something I've said for many years: in my experience even the majority of true followers of Jesus would rather work some other day job than the one they're in to put food on the table.

Do you think those Jesus and His disciples fed never got hungry again? He did this amazing miracle and yet when the meeting ended they went back to their own lives and places from which they'd come. For many we can suspect their circumstances never fully changed: the Romans were still occupying their land and controlling much of day-to-day life. Their religious leaders were still oppressing them -and plenty of those hypocrites at that.

There are times the world still seems to mock us regardless of how full our bellies are after a blessed meal.

I believe looking up to God Himself and seeking a growing relationship with Him in Jesus Christ is our only true hope of finding satisfaction this side of heaven. We get glimpses of His glory, but it truly comes down to faith and focus on the Lord and not in our own mirrors that satisfaction and peace comes.

Things to think about and act upon as we wrestle with the trials and disillusionment

of daily life on this earth? I think so!

And as always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn