“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35 NIV).
A few days ago, I had this strong urge to stop at Wing Stop to order food that I absolutely did not need.
I live five minutes away from a Wing Stop, and their boneless chicken tenders dipped in Habanero sauce are my guilty pleasure.
Lord have mercy!
I knew I needed to resist my food craving, so I said those dreaded four words that you despise to hear when you want to go out to eat:
There’s food at home.
I had just gone grocery shopping a few days ago. I had plenty of fruits, vegetables, and leftovers.
What I needed was right there.
There was, indeed, food at home.
As soon as I said those words out loud, I felt a strong correlation to my spiritual life.
I often seek things outside of God, that come from God: value, strength, love, peace, purpose, and hope.
I have sought value in relationships and my career. I have sought strength within myself, or through the compliments of others. I have sought peace through isolation, and hope through my own might.
Those sources are all rooted in an unstable foundation. They are fleeting, and only provide relief in the moment.
All along, right at home, all that we need is wrapped up in God.
If you need strength, God will be that for you: “ Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
If you need love, God will be that for you: “ Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
There is such hope in knowing that we do not have to look far to find what is needed to navigate life.
He is our source.
There’s food at home.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for who you are, who you have been, and who you will continue to be. Help me to learn to rely solely on you. You are the source of my strength, peace, love, purpose, hope, and faith. Give me the perspective to never lose sight of the source.
Your turn: Do you ever struggle with hungering after things God has already provided?
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