“The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33(NLT)

Day 8: Hunger #writetogether31days

There are many things in the Bible I just don’t understand. You too? Recently I was on a quest to make sense of what the Word says about prayer as it related to situations in my life. I read commentaries, asked wise Christians whom I trust, went through a challenging 13 week study on prayer with a friend (without her I’d never had made it), and I actually prayed…a lot…that I’d finally get it.  I didn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t wasted time, but what I’ve come to realize is that I had a hunger for the wrong thing. My appetite was for food for thought rather than for my soul, I desired knowledge to clarify current life circumstances rather than craving the Truth and Bread of Life. 

“So don’t worry about these things saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)

I was worrying about getting it right and there’s a smorgasbord of information available: books with all the “answers” we are hungry for, experts willing to feed us what we think we want, videos, podcasts, other people (think of Job) who know the just perfect recipe to take off the edge. The problem is, and you probably know this, all that the world offers is only temporary and eventually leaves us just feeling empty again.

The lesson for me and maybe for you too is that while a diet of study is vital for our growth, it’s not necessary to understand everything before we believe. Having faith that God has a plan, that He is good, and that He provides all we need is the key ingredient to living a “full” life. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

When Jesus taught the disciples (and us) to pray he said, “Pray like this:….Give us this day our daily bread.” HE is the Bread we should savor daily. Trusting in Him satisfies like nothing else can. He makes sense when we lack understanding. Praise God!  I think I’m finally beginning to get it. How about you?