I want to yearn

I've been puzzled lately over the fact that this generation of people don't seem to "need" Jesus. Let me clarify, I feel that I need Him, and I probably wouldn't even be alive today if it weren't for him. But I look at people so content with their lives the way they are and they don't seem to need Jesus in any way...in fact, they sometimes seem happier than even me.

As I look back on people like King David, Augustine, Calvin, Edwards, and all the other great names, there was an undeniable dependency on God. In Psalm 42 David writes these words: "Like a deer pants for water brooks, so my soul pant for thee, Oh God." There is a desperation there, a need. He paints such a poignant picture of a deer that is in desperate need of a refreshing drink as we are in need of a drink of living water. So where has this desperation gone? What happened to it? In a world more broken and more hollow than ever before the thought would be that people are in even more need of the loving kindness of God...but we all seem to have turned our backs somehow. Why do we pretend to not need Him? Is it because we are afraid to show that we are vulnerable? In this world so broken we feel the need to cover our desperation and say that we can muster up the strength to do it on our own.

I stand here as a man to tell you all, I cannot do it on my own. In my weakness I am made strong, so I boast and delight in these weaknesses because I know that reinforcement is on the way and that back up cannot be stopped. Not now and not ever...it is for this reason that I am not ashamed to say I need Him, to say I want Him, that my soul is desperate for the company of a God so great that He was willing to go to the greatest lengths imaginable to win my heart. A God so great that even in my darkest hour as I ran in the opposite direction of His arms he chased me, never letting me go too far from His presence. Yes friends, I need Him...you need Him. It's hard to be dependant on someone when we all want to come off as self sufficient and strong, but for just a moment put down your mask and unlock the door. Let the King in, He wants you, to be there for you, and the funny thing is He is the only one who will never hurt us and let us down. Open...Open!!! Be desperate and weak with me, I want to yearn and pant and cry out for the presence of the living God.