Is This All There Is?

Sometimes I let emotions control my feelings instead of facts and I feel down, down, down. The facts are the only thing that is eternal – God’s Word.  When I look anywhere else my nature feels hopeless because without the Word I look at things (or people) to do what only God can.

 

That is-this-all-there-is feeling is commonly called depression, and the incidence of it is growing so rapidly that millions of people are experiencing feelings like Haggai wrote about: Haggai. 1:6-7

You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

 

Haven’t we all been there at one time or another?

Much work – little result, leaving us wondering if it was worth it

We run to food and drink for comfort but never feel satisfied beyond momentary pleasure

We dress up to attract the love and acceptance we crave, but inside feel  empty and cold

And the purse with holes in it? Oh gracious – how fast the money goes!

 

Life often hurts.  Our work is not recognized, or there seems little evidence of all the effort we’ve put into a project. We work hard, do the right things, and still the job slips out of our grasp. Food and drink, instead of giving the comfort we crave, deceive us into unhealthy obsession, even leaving us feeling physically ill, emotionally and spiritually empty.  Relationships we thought were warm security instead become pain, and cold abandonment.   We focus on career and survival working, busy, busy, so we don’t have to think of life’s hurts, and our purse, and our hearts seem full of holes.  And we ask

 

Is this all there is?

Some of life’s tragedies come from our own choices, but others come against our will. When life is done, will I, will we, look back and say Is this all there is?

 

Or what would it take for me, for you to be satisfied?

 

Several special people in my life experienced all of the troubles listed in Haggai and more, walked away from God for a time, gave careful thought to their ways, and lived these challenging verses.

 

You will know who you are, and I want you to know you inspired me. You inspired many.  Thank you for making footsteps worthy of following, and to encourage all who still hunger.

Luke 6:21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.

If This Is All There Is – by Delores Liesner © 2012
If this is all there is

If this is all there is

If this is all there is to life

Then Lord, I’m satisfied

A mother prayed, whatever Lord, please keep our family at your side

I’d give my life so they can know, that you alone can satisfy

Thank you for forgiving the bad choices that I made

I am yours now and only pray that you’ll be glorified

And if this is all there is

If this is all there is to life; then Lord, I’m satisfied.

 

Her son grew strong and greatly skilled; he pushed the Lord aside

Soon he returned, regretting time lived only for his pride

But cancer grew within him, and he quietly bore the pain

Saying, Lord, be glorified, I’d do it all again

And if this is all there is

If this is all there is to life, then Lord, I’m satisfied.

 

A daughter made poor choices, a life of purity denied

And the sins that she had chosen, bent her thoughts to suicide

But when her precious child was born, unto the Lord she cried

Oh Lord, I pray that through this life, you would be glorified

And if this is all there is

If this is all there is to life, then Lord, I’m satisfied

 

Her husband was unfaithful to his family and the law

He bowed in shame he had to leave and that his family saw

But his wife prayed, Dear God, while he’s away

help me to love him even more

And through these trials Lord, may you be glorified

And if this is all there is

If this is all there is to life, then Lord, I’m satisfied.

 

Dear Lord, I’ve daily seen your grace, and felt your presence at my side

And if this is all there is

If this is all there is to life – then Lord, I’m satisfied.

 

Psa. 17:15          And I—in righteousness I will see your face;

when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.