Our Hearts Are Restless…

Not long ago, I was listening to a pastor of a mega-church talk about how when he was first starting his church, he thought to himself, if I can just get this church to 300 members, then, I’ll feel like I’ve made it. When the church reached three hundred, he thought to himself, “Well, when it gets to 1000, I’ll be good – I’ll be at peace.” The church reached 1000, and he thought – well, I’m not there yet. If it grows to 5,000, then I’m in the top tier.  But even 10,000 members, he was deeply unhappy. There was no peace. He went on to say, “There was no peace – because that’s not where peace is found. True peace is found in Christ alone. I knew this up here in my head- but not in here in my heart.”

This story just makes me aware that there are so many voices out there that say loudly: You are not enough. You are an imposter, or you are a burden. Go and prove you are worth something… Many voices tell us the love and healing and peace we are looking for are found out there somewhere.

And this is what leads every prodigal astray…I think about the people I know who have suffered greatly from addiction – trying hard to fill that void – to find that peace with alcohol or pain medication or overwork or money or…you name it…  or even more subtle things – like success.

However, what that pastor said is true. Long ago Saint Augustine put it this way, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.”

Let us pray: Gracious God, we remember the words you spoke over the waters of Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved child. With you, I am well pleased.” We remember that these words are intended for us as well. Help us to accept your love. As our hearts rest in you, may we experience your peace anew. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.