“God, I know there’s more. Why do I feel so empty? I have everything I ever wanted and everything I need”. I prayed that with tears flowing heavily from my eyes. I had this feeling like something was missing, but I didn’t know what it was.

Have you ever been there? How ungrateful on my part to feel discontent. At least, that’s what I thought. I have a roof over my head, never go without eating, a great husband, and amazing family and friends. What was wrong with me?

There was a longing in my heart that I couldn’t put my finger on. All the “things” I had, even the people in my life, couldn’t satisfy it. Feeling drained and tired, I cried out to God. “Whatever this feeling is, fill it with you, Lord”. At the time, I didn’t realize that’s exactly what God wanted.

The closer I got to Him, the more I stepped into His presence, the lighter and more joyful I felt. That burden and heaviness I felt slowly diminished as I listened to what God had planned for my life. I didn’t realize that the thirst I was experiencing was God himself drawing me to Him.

I have to admit that many times I try to dismiss that feeling by filling my schedule with more stuff to do. Or I avoid taking a moment to be with God, by being on my phone for hours. (By the way, why is social media so addictive?!) When we come face to face with God, there are things He wants to show us and maybe, just maybe, deep down, we are afraid to know.

The truth is that we all long for more. And we think that the “more” we desire will be satisfied by things or people. We see in the media, that celebrities, millionaires, the rich and famous have it all, but many are addicted to drugs or live promiscuous lives.

Some put their achievements and goals on a pedestal that only God should occupy. Our marriages, the people we love, can also start to occupy the place God is supposed to fill in our hearts.

The reality that I’ve come to discover is that the “more” we long for can only be satisfied by what God has for us. Stepping into His presence to hear from Him can totally be scary because many times His “more” doesn’t align with what we have put first in our lives.

Friend, I invite you to let go of your phone, laptop, open up your schedule and press into His presence. Lean into, walk in, run into His presence. There’s more for your life. Let go of the fear, of the excuses, the idols, and let Him satisfy your longing for more. What He has for you, is greater and grander than any plan, achievement, or material desire, you have in mind.

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way.” Psalm 37:23

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9