The Biggest Lesson God’s Taught Me at Age 22

Only God can truly satisfy the desires of my heart.

There. Plain and simple. But sometimes, that truth is really hard to accept when the world is so enticing.

So let’s backtrack a little.

22 has been an interesting year for me. In some ways, I finally feel like I know where I’m headed–in the short term and the longterm.

It’s been a privilege pursuing my career goal of becoming an author, and after receiving so much professional feedback and encouragement this year, this dream actually seems within reach.

And a couple months ago, I participated in an in-depth study of Revelation, which reminded me of the eternal home we have with Jesus. I felt a strange sense of comfort, despite all of the warnings and trials foreshadowed in Revelation, by the reassurance that this earth is not our home, so it’s okay if we don’t feel like we belong here sometimes.

This has been a year of healing from past hurts, finding hope that reconciliation is possible, and learning to rely on God day by day for strength, grace, and wisdom.

It’s also been a year of recognizing that as beautiful as my dreams might be, achieving them won’t satisfy me completely.

Yes, reconciliation is worth fighting for. Yes, becoming an author could impact the lives of many readers. Yes, traveling the world might open my perspective in new and exciting ways.

But will any of that fully satisfy me? No.

At the end of the day, I must surrender all of those things to God. With surrender comes supernatural peace, hope and joy, even in the waiting.

The biggest joy of my life this year has been growing in my hunger for God.

It’s taken a long time to get here. Growing up, I didn’t enjoy reading the Bible on my own. As I got older, I began the discipline of being in the Word consistently, and after a while, my day couldn’t start without time with God. My dependence on Him grew the more I abided in Him and His teaching.

But this year, my desire for God went from craving what His presence would give me (peace, rest, answers) and transformed into a desire for God Himself. To know Him more, to understand Him deeply, and to learn how He wants me to live–even at the cost of my own earthly desires.

God will continue to help me grow in my obedience to Him, especially as I learn to trust Him more each day. I’m still at the beginning of this stage of my faith journey, but I’m so thankful for His grace and patience with me, even when I fall into temptation or trust in my own judgement rather than His divine wisdom.

Though the world feels dim and dark, I pray that we will shine brightly with the hope found in Jesus as we look forward to our reunion with Him.

What are you thankful to God for today?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)