Episode 02: Something is Missing
Show Notes
In this episode, I want to explore the underlying sentiment in this statement “something is missing”.
Because the statement itself actually reveals so much. It tells me that there is a desire that is currently unmet. What I discern in statements like these is our search for MEANING.
When we make this statement when applied to any aspect of the Christian faith, we are essentially saying I thought this would be more meaningful.
It implies that our faith experience and the meaningfulness of that experience is not satisfying the deep longings of our soul. Now is that not a HUGE problem? Jesus is meant to fill our needs. And He wants to! He says “COME, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. And yet for so many of us, that rest continues to elude us and our soul needs remain unmet. Our experience conflicts with everything Jesus told us it means to have a relationship with Him.
The problem is filling a need is not a knowledge problem, it’s a hunger problem. We don’t even realise that most of our endeavours have simply been an attempt to fill that hunger. But ‘need’ isn’t a question. When our body lacks sustenance, it simply craves replenishment.
So why do we struggle to have our needs met?
Because we aren’t going deep enough in our faith! Look at what the scriptures say:
Colossians 2:7
“Let your roots grow down into Him. Then your faith will be strong.”
Proverbs 12:3
“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.”
Ephesians 3:17
“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
The fact is, we often suspect we are missing something in our faith, but it is possible that we just aren’t going deep enough. This question will help demonstrate this:
Would you really do anything for God?
Most of us want to say yes, but we know we aren’t quite there yet.
But would you something for God?
Yes, most of us are doing stuff for God right now.
Ok. Would you do something for God that had no gain for you?
The fact is many of us are doing things for God, but most of us aren’t aware of how what we are doing is motivated by personal gain. How deep must our love for God be, if there are so many conditions we’ve applied.
Probably the best example of the depth of our faith, is the modern Christians approach to worship. I don’t deny that singing songs of worship does much for your perspective. But the focal point of worship is GOD. He is the point of the worship. It actually fails to be worship if it’s predominantly about us.
The natural by product of loving Him like this, is that you will feel great. But that’s not the purpose. I presume everyone is on the same page as me, until I hear someone say as they exit a service: "I just couldn’t get into the worship today” or “Man the worship was good today!”
These kinds of statements tell me that the worshipper at least in part, thought the worship was going to do something for them! I’m glad that we receive from worship, but we aren’t supposed to give to receive.
The point is, that our roots don’t go deep enough.
Our love for God is not as pure as we think, and it affects how we experience faith.
The reason we crave meaning and substance is because we were made for depth. It is a part of our design. We are highly meaningful creations. It is often this that leads us on a path to find God in the first place. We sense an emptiness, and we want it to be filled. But the ideologies we believe in are supposed to go deep and permeate our being.
What is the point of faith, if it fails to produce a transformed meaningful life? It is in the living that our faith ideals are proven and their innate value is shown.
If you feel like there is something missing, it may be time to go deeper.