The Deepest Desire

It is said that we are created with a God-shaped vacuum and never feel satisfied until that void is filled with Him. Yet even then, in this blessed Christian life there is a sense of incompleteness. We know we have Him and yet we know He does not have all of us. For that, there is a deep longing.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23)

Spurgeon’s reading for today so perfectly describes this inner longing that I am personalizing his words as a mirror and echo of what the Lord says to me also.

All believers feel this groaning to a greater or lesser degree. It is not the groan of murmuring or complaint, but rather the note of desire. We have received the Holy Spirit, yet we desire the whole experience of Him.

We sigh that our entire spirit, soul, and body is not yet set free from the last vestige of the fall. We long to put off all corruption, weakness, and dishonor. We yearn inwardly to be wrapped in purity, immortality, glory — in the spiritual body which the Lord Jesus will bestow upon us. We long for the manifestation of our adoption as the children of God.

This groaning is “within ourselves” and not the groan of a hypocrite so as to make others believe we are greater saints because of our wretched state. Instead, these sighs are sacred, too hallowed to talk about. They are known to and offered to our Lord alone.

We “wait” and are not petulant like Jonah or Elijah when life was difficult and they blurted, “Let me die.” We do not whimper for the end of life because we are tired of work, nor wish to escape present sufferings for we are tired of those also. We groan for glorification, but must wait patiently for it, knowing that the timing of the Lord is best. Waiting implies being ready, standing at the door expecting Jesus to open it and take us to Himself.

This “groaning” is a test. People can be judged by what they long for. Some groan after wealth for they worship money. Some groan under the troubles of life because they are impatient and perhaps love comfort. Some groan for glory in this life. However, the person who sighs after God and is uneasy until he is made like Jesus is a blessed believer. He sighs because the Spirit who lives within also groans for the coming of the Lord, and the resurrection which He will bring to us.

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Lord, You know my heart. There is nothing to add to this.