Emotional Satisfaction

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Emotional satisfaction comes from Christ—from a focus on His eternal satisfaction. My feelings of fulfillment will not rise any higher than my faith in Jesus to meet my every need. Of course there are emotional needs like love, laugher, security and companionship that close confidants can provide. But unless the backdrop of my emotional desires are based on my belief and dependence on God—then I will never be satisfied. Contentment is in Christ alone—period. Similar to my clothing trapping heat to warm my body, so the Spirit warms my soul. Emotional satisfaction comes from the warm security of the Spirit’s influence on my being.

Isaiah illustrates compelling imagery of a life suffering a spiritual drought, that can only be irrigated by the love of God. Sin and secular society scorch our soul with their dry and brittle influences, but the living water of Jesus brings life and longing for the Lord to quench our thirsty hearts. Imagine a luscious green garden laden with fruits and vegetables—likewise we feast on the fruit of soul satisfaction. Emotional fullness from our heavenly Father never stops flowing—never. The spigot of our Savior’s love is always turned on by faith in His persistent provision.

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14).