Life Lessons March 2024
By Doug Harrell
Mitchell County
If you are old enough you may remember the song by The Rolling Stones, Satisfaction:
“I can’t get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That’s what I say
I can’t get no satisfaction, I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no”
Most of us go through life struggling to get satisfaction. We look for ways to bring joy into our lives, ways to erase our hurt and pain, and ways to ease our spinning thoughts and fears. We tend to feel our inadequate capabilities don’t measure up to the task before us. We are afraid to get out of our comfort zones. Try as we might, we can’t get any satisfaction in our lives. Two things must come into focus if we are to overcome this longing for true satisfaction in our lives, belief and faith.
“Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalms 107:5-9 KJV
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV
We must have a sincere hope for a better today, a better tomorrow, and a better life in general. If we have hope, a genuine desire with the expectation of fulfillment, and we build that hope upon His righteousness and promises we will reach that goal of satisfaction. Nothing else in this old world will do it. So many times we look for excitement and satisfaction in the things of this world. These include excitement (supposed) of an affair with what we might think is greener grass on the other side of the fence and the enhancement, (we think) of our personality when we have a few drinks. We think the big house and the fancy car might give it to us. That does not happen. The Lord wants us to be happy and have satisfaction, but we usually mess up big time when we take our eyes off the instructions and directions for the good life.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
1 John 2:15-16 KJV
The song “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less” says it this way:
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand”
Build your hope in Jesus because all other things will give you no satisfaction. Only by the blood of Jesus can we attain that hope and eternal satisfaction that comes from knowing and accepting Him as our only true path. He leads us toward our righteousness through His sacrifice that was given so that we could have the blessed assurance that all is well with our souls.
____________________________________________
Doug Harrell is a lifelong resident of Mitchell County, Owner of Harrell Hill Farms, a member of Bear Creek Baptist Church, and former publisher of Blue Ridge Christian News. You can find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/doug.harrell.77
You can read more good Christian News from Doug Harrell HERE
____________________________________________
