When was the last time you were hungry? Not just hungry around the edges. Not, Is that my stomach gurgling? Maybe I should eat something hungry, but really hungry.
Really, really hungry. Like, my hands are shaky, my head hurts, I think I might faint, and my stomach feels like I’ve swallowed a piranha and it’s gnawing its way out hungry.
In God’s mercy, hunger like this has never been a regular part of my life. But there have been times when I’ve been so distracted by the ache of my empty stomach that I could think of nothing else.
Genuine hunger is all consuming.
As Christians, we experience a different type of hunger. This hunger manifests itself in different ways.
It’s the ache in our souls when we see those we love running from Jesus straight into the arms of Satan.
It’s the knife blade to our heart when we see our beloved country signing legislation dooming tiny babies to death in their mother’s wombs.
It’s the howling hole in our being that weeps over those following the siren song of materialism, success, and power instead of sacrifice, service, and humility.
It’s the red-hot pulse of anger as we watch loved ones battle cancer and children die of disease.
It’s the feeble whimper that longs for mercy, grace, and kindness in a world of anger, vengeance, and cruelty.
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity explained it this way:
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
Jeremiah 31:25 describes a dream the prophet had of days to come. God said, “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
Satiated the weary soul.
The word satiate (SAY-she-ate) means to fill to the top, to satisfy with abundance. Referring to liquid, it means to drink to the full.
When we’re satiated, we have no room for anything else. Not an ounce, a drop, or a smidgen. Think Thanksgiving-dinner-until-you-almost-burst kind of full.
This is how God promises to satisfy our weary souls—filled to the top with His goodness and joy and no room for anything else. No sorrow. No tears. No longing. No fears. No hurt. No anger. No regrets.
We’ll no longer grieve for prodigal children or weep over aborted babies.
Anger will no longer consume us because of disease and death. We will cease to mourn our country’s moral failures and its departure from all that is good.
God will satiate our weary souls and make everything right again. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
If your soul is weary, and your heart is hurting, take comfort in this today.
About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart
How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.
An unshakable hope.
In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.
Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.
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What a great question to ask ma’am. Am I sad? Yes, when I take my eyes off of God and I look at this crumbling, decaying world around me. Am I satiated? Not yet, but my hope in God alone assures me that I will be one day soon. it in recognizing that while I cannot live “life to the full” in this life (I still have my human sin nature to battle with), I do know through faith that I will be upon that Day. it is upon that promise that I can hold on until that Day arrives. As you so aptly stated, “… come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
You’re absolutely right, J.D. We have a great hope ahead, but also a great hope here on earth. On this we can take a stand!
Thanks Lori. Frustration and restlessness can get the best of us and CS Lewis quote has encouraged me many times to offer perspective. But we do live here! And as we fulfill our purposes a “go to” has been 1 Timothy 6:6- “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Yes, as long as we’re here, we have a job to do. And we’ll do it in faith!
I am taking comfort in Him and knowing His love fills every moment. 🙂
Every single one, Melissa. Take heart, dear friend!
Satiated is what Jesus meant when He told the Samaritan woman if she would drink from His living water she would never thirst again. His Bread of Life and Living Water satisfies us to the fullest measure.