When Need Becomes Desire

It is true that we are all born with needs. The need to be fed, the need to be cleansed, the need to learn, and a thousand others. But as we grow, and as these needs are met by others, a change takes place. Our needs (though still technically needs) become our desires.

We desire to eat, but we don’t (typically) need to be fed. We desire to be cleansed, but we don’t need to be bathed. And (though we might think otherwise) we desire to learn, but we don’t need to be taught.

All of those initial needs still exist in us. But now when they are cared for, rather than merely meeting a need, we satisfy a desire.

The gift of God to us is the transformation of our needs into desires.

In the Bible, we read that all people (including me and you) are “under sin”. That is the universal need. We need to be separated from our sin. To have it removed from us and us from it.

But we also read that “no one seeks God”, not even one. Amazingly, though the heart of man (on some level) universally feels and deals with the need arising from sin, we universally fail to attain (or even seek) the solution.

The need has yet to be transformed into desire.

But God does something wonderful in the heart of his child. By His Spirit and grace, He enters into the need we all feel and He turns it into a desire for Himself. In the light of His Presence, our sin carries a shame that causes us to run from Him. But His grace gives humility that allows us to carry that shame back to Him. And when we do approach Him, we find not only our need met but we experience the satisfaction of our (new) heart’s desire.

For God does not merely meet needs. He satisfies desires. We are all born needing Him, but we are only re-born when we desire Him. 

And that is the gift of God to us. Merry Christmas.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins – 1 John 4:10

“You did not choose me….but I chose You…” – Jesus (John 15:16)