a temporary satisfaction

i’ve been thinking about this idea of permanence a lot. what it means and why we long to have permanence in our lives- and yet we (or at least in my experience) seem to seek the temporary instead. permanence. it’s a weighty word. and it’s a little scary to be completely honest. its scary because we are so prone to chose the in-between option, the option that carries the least amount of consequences, the option that we can get out of when it fails or doesn’t fill our need any longer. we satisfy our desires with the temporary because they produce the seemingly sweet reward of comfort or pleasure or satisfaction. while these may be fulfilling for a certain amount of time, they can never fully satisfy. time after time again we fall into the trap of listening to what society tells us will make us feel whole.

public praise only lasts until the fire dies, forcing you to keep igniting and fueling that fire with another post or picture. a shopping spree high only lasts until the luster of the “new” fades (which is typically pretty fast). or the giddiness of a new haircut comes to a halt when you realize post-first shower that you cannot replicate the salon style you came home in. the list goes on. it’s difficult to obtain complete satisfaction in the temporary. 

that being said, it’s sometimes hard to find satisfaction in the permanence too. our selfish, impatient selves are so inclined to desire the quick and immediate rewards this earthly life has to offer. and sometimes i get so wrapped up in the temporary that i have to sit myself down and remind myself of the permanent joys and blessings God hands to us. one of the psalms i’ve been returning to is psalm 16, especially this section:

Psalm 16—
… 5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

in God, we have a beautiful inheritance. we have a permanent place to call home, a permanent and loving Father who always goes before us. in him, there is a permanent joy that cannot be found from anything on this earth. this pattern here- that all the permanent things flow from the Trinity- is so important to recognize. as we are reminded in 1 peter 1:24-25 “all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. the grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” another reminder that even our existence is temporary, yet God’s word and love for us remains. permanently.

so when you feel unsatisfied by the temporary, by the earthly things, by the societal yank into the consumer world, dwell on the permanent things. these will be what satisfy you. and while it may take time to fully appreciate them, know that it is the permanent that will fill your soul up. the eternal love of God. the joy we have from Jesus through the Holy Spirit. the permanent home we have in heaven. this beautiful inheritance we can call ours, just as Jesus calls us his.