The Longing to be Enjoyed

Devotional

The human race has no greater driving force than the longing to be enjoyed. Most of us have spent our entire lives working to be enjoyed by others. We’ll go to whatever length necessary to prove ourselves worthy of being liked or loved. Some work tirelessly at a talent or skill hoping to impress with their abilities. Some devote countless hours to their appearance hoping the way they look will attract others and satisfy their longing to be enjoyed. Some hope that money and possessions will cause people to like them or to want to spend time with them. Regardless of how we seek to be enjoyed, if we’re honest, we will discover this longing is a driving force in all of us.

Think back on your life. Think back on yesterday. What did you do so that people would like you—so that people would enjoy you? I could name lots of ways I strive for people’s affection or adoration on a daily basis! I long with everything in me to be enjoyed. I cringe at the thought of feeling cast out, loved by too few or none—unenjoyable. You see, we can’t help our need to be enjoyed because God created each of us with longings that match avenues he's created to lead us back to his presence.

Our Father created all of us with a longing to be enjoyed by him. The Creator of all things, the only one who knows everything about you, longs for you to know that he deeply enjoys you. You, just being fully you, are loved. You, with all your failures, victories, sins, and quirks are enjoyable to God. God made you the way he did for a reason! He enjoys talking with you, and watching you work. He longs for you to live the life he’s laid out for you and experience the fullness of joy he has richly provided you. Of course he hates when we sin. He can’t possibly enjoy something we’re doing that’s harmful to us and others. But even in our failure God pursues us. Even in rebellion God longs for us to turn our hearts toward him so that he can run out to meet us and clothe us with grace. Out of his unconditional love, he wants to throw a celebration in honor of restored relationship with you (Luke 15:11-32).

Seek fulfillment for your longing to be enjoyed in the arms of your loving Father. See him as your Father running out to meet you that you might be fully enjoyed by him. Let his love sink into the depths of your heart that your longing to be enjoyed may be fully satisfied in him. May your time in guided prayer be marked by the joy your Father has over you.