Desires

Is it wrong to have desires?

Should I not have wants?

I remember growing up, we'd play a game called "I claim".  We would see something we wanted and we'd say "I claim that Lamborghini" and so that became "Mine" when I grew up and none of my siblings could claim the same Lamborghini as me...they had to find a different one to claim if they wanted it.

[Source]

Do you remember this?!  Oh it was so cool back then

When mom would catch us, we'd get in t-r-o-u-b-l-e!  

Mom didn't really like us having such wants.

I think about this quite frequently.  America is 'fat' on things!  We have and we have.  So often the phrase "First World Problem" soars through my mind.  So much so, I feel I can just acronym it now

That's another F.W.P. if you know what I mean...

(If it wasn't for that "W", I'm sure it would catch on pretty quickly.)

I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful son, a home, food, a loving family, health insurance, a vehicle... a kitchenaid... I mean what more could I want?!

my family to live closer to us, or better - us to move closer to them

remodel and redecorate my home (starting with new interior paint)

to go on an amazing vacation to another continent

to adopt a little girl from Guatemala (I don't know why-just want to)

a dehydrator, bigger crock-pot, waffle iron, etc

a great big back yard with LOTS of sun for a garden and beautiful raised beds

an insulated and electric greenhouse for yummy veggies all winter

to be able to eat eggs again (coming as soon as Sweet P is done nursing)

to have an amazing talent that I could market

and sooo many more things!!

See.....F.W.P.!

And most of these are solvable with enough money...but is there every really "enough" money...and isn't that just another desire?!

This topic of desires/wants has come up quite a bit in my world.  Sometimes it's because my friends and I are actually hashing out these questions and confessing our hearts sins and hurts... Other times it's because I'm confused why wanted objects have become such an intense need in a friend's life, or my life. 

So, what's the answer?

Well, I don't have 'the' answer, I'm sure!  But I know what scripture says - aside from the "Thou Shalt Not Covet" that is.

So here's my hash out:

God created us to want and to desire so that we would desire Him and a life with Him.  
We will always desire something more, until we are in perfect communion with Him: 

"...He has put eternity in their hearts..." - Ecclesiastes 3:11b

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart". - Psalm 37:4

"...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." - Psalm 103:5

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

Reading these, I see a generous Father, who desires to give to us.

And He knows we have desires - HE GAVE US the desire to desire! 

But our heart motive plays the biggest role here.  Are we seeking God's will and His desires for our life?  When we seek Him, and His will, our desires will be what He wants for us.

I remember the years after William, I wanted a baby so badly.  I was so angry that I didn't get to bring William home with me.  I didn't know how to tell people about him.  When people would ask if we were going to start trying to have a family, I wanted to yell at them

"WE ARE A FAMILY"

And then I wanted to yell at them the truth of our family.   I would get upset seeing unwed mothers having babies.  I would get upset seeing pregnant women smoke, or 'just have a sip' of wine or beer.  I was happy for my friends that I felt "deserved" a baby when they told me they were pregnant, but if I felt they didn't deserve it, I was jealous and angry.  (Reality check- Who am I to judge who deserves this and who doesn't?!)

In my desires to have a baby, I became very sinful!  I didn't speak it aloud, but OH BOY! was it ever in my heart.  It was U-G-L-Y!  I was ugly!

How could I do a "good work" for my Savior when my heart's focus was not on the desires He had for me.  My heart's focus was definitely on what I wanted for me... (Like I know what's best for me)

"The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires" - Proverbs 11:6

"...but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."  - Mark 4:9

Thankfully, His perfect Love is so much bigger than my selfish desires.  God understands me!  He knows my emotions, my hurts, my angers, my bitterness.  He understands me because HE CREATED ME!  And He created me with emotions...but He also created me to desire Him.  To seek Him.  To look to Him when I am hurt and angry and bitter.  And regardless of what a brat I am being, He can still and does still use me.

He lovingly worked me through my emotions and desires.  And I found myself really truly desiring what He wanted for me!  How do I know this?  Well, because I wasn't angry and bitter when I would see unwed pregnant women, instead I wanted to help them...they are going to have a hard road and need help.  I wasn't angry and bitter when I saw pregnant women smoke, I was sad and would pray for them and that child(ren).  I began to see that nobody 'deserves' anything we are given, but that

God blesses all of us - 

and His blessings don't look the same for everyone, 

but they are just as amazing 

because it's what God knows is perfect for you!

I would battle keeping this desire in check though.  Over the years, I definitely had to examine my heart on this many times... And I remember the day I really truly gave this over.  It was so freeing!   And a few months later, I found out I was going to have my little Sweet P.

My desire was one God had for me, I just had years of my heart putting my desire above all else and that desire became my idol.

So, if God created me to have desires, how can they be wrong?

He created us to desire a life with Him and eternity with Him.  We will be "wanting" until we are home with Him - we are strangers in this world and will be lacking in comfort until we are HOME.

In our sinful human nature, we fill those wants and desires with THINGS (house, car, spouse, children, degrees, top of the corporate ladder, etc) and we always think our life will be complete "once" we obtain ____________ (fill in the blank)

NOT SO!

But don't forget-

The One who made the stars does not want you to be satisfied with what you can obtain on earth.

He wants you to desire a life with Him - to be satisfied with in a joy given by Him

God does give to us desires in this world, but it is our heart's motive that will gauge if our desire is Godly or worldly.  And He does bless us with things in this world.  

And what HE gives is Good!

What desires do you feel God has placed on your heart lately?  I would love to hear what Good Things and Opportunities God is blessing you with.