Hunger Pangs

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go meet with God?" --Psalm 42:2

One of my New Year's resolutions was to get fit, lose some weight, and eat healthy. As part of my plan to lose some weight, I've been counting calories and limiting my intake.

The result?

I'm HUNGRY all the time! My stomach aches, my mood shifts to irritable grouch-monster, and my motivation to do anything that requires exertion is nil. If I exercise and forget to up my hydration, the THIRST kicks in... my mouth is dry, my throat burns, and I begin to fantasize about cool, smooth, water.

The Bible often uses the metaphor of hunger and thirst in reference to our relationship with God. What does this say about our spiritual relationship?

1) It's a Need: -I have (more times than I'd like to admit) treated my relationship with God as a nice addition to my life that I pay attention to when I have time, rather than chasing after it with the ferocity I chase down a glass of water after 45 minutes of intense cardio. You don't eat/drink; you die. You don't chase after God constantly; your spirit dies.

2) It has widespread effects: -malnourishment has all kind of repercussions: emaciation, lethargy, fatigue, fainting, poor mood, organ failure, etc. In the same way, a starving spirit has many consequences. While I don't get a sharp pain in my soul when I start neglecting my relationship with God (a pain like I get in my stomach when I haven't eaten for a few hours and my last meal was small to begin with!), the pain still manifests itself in different ways--depression, anxiety, more arguments with loved ones, impatience, selfishness... I could go on and on.

 3) It's up to you: -I can be surrounded by food and still be hungry. It's my choice to eat. God always makes himself available to us, so it's not His fault when we stubbornly refuse to acknowledge him and our spirit starves. It's our fault. We're the ones that choose whether or not to pursue and cultivate the relationship. God is always there; always inviting... but he's not going to force himself on us.

We need to learn to see the signs of spiritual starvation and soul thirst. We need to stop ignoring our spiritual "hunger pangs", and instead chase after God with ferocity, desperation, and deepest desiring.

"My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." --Psalm 84:2