If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
Sometimes I ask myself after all these years why is the flesh still screaming at me to submit? So often our longings and passions can seem so much louder than the kind, gentle, drawing presence of God.
Over the years I have lived both in and through my struggle with unmet longings. Unexpected jealousies, loneliness, looking with lustful intent, wanting to be wanted. All real.
I built the practice of sharing struggles with trusted others thinking vulnerability was the antidote. In hindsight I now see I shrunk away from running to Christ in the middle of these battles. I was keeping struggles in the light but not always bringing them to the place that matters. The feet of my Jesus.
The shame of my longings kept me separate.
Longings have power. They are real and when left unexamined they hinder us from the spiritual depth God is calling us to experience.
Because of God’s grace, I no longer run from Christ in my longing. I run to Him. I’ve learned unmet longings can take me into a deeper awareness of my union with Christ. The true purpose of longing is not to create strategies to solve but to send us to the comfort of Christ.
Longings show up in many forms. Learn to name yours. Comfort, money, a bigger house, a better job, power, status, respect, friends, a baby, approval. The list goes on and on. When our lives are dominated by unmet longings the old man easily stirs these longings into passions that cause us to submit and respond impulsively without regard for God or His ways.
These longings become idols that capture our attention and the flesh impulsively kicks into gear to meet these longings. We become driven by passions and are only comforted when we submit to the flesh. We get false relief for a minute trying to satisfy the longing but when the passion dissipates the longing remains. The cycle repeats.
The way to freedom is to draw near to the Shepherd. Unmet longings must be taken to Christ and given to Him while they are raging. Sharing with others can help but is not the full answer. Through faith we ascend to our position in Christ in Heaven and set our minds on Him. Faith is a gift God has already given us. The Holy Spirit will take what we bring to Him and change our desires to both will and to work for God’s good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
As we draw closer to a living awareness of our union with Christ, we will see a reordering of our longings. Desires driven by the fruit of love will replace and fill our hearts. This gift of reordering is a work of the Spirit.
Father, help me to draw near to you in the middle of my unmet needs and passions. When they are raging, I come to you, both experientially and intellectually. I come both knowing the truth from scripture and experiencing your love in my heart. Father, I draw near to You and You alone.
The Next Question
- Do you run to Christ when you are in the raging middle of your unmet longings?
- What keeps you from running to Him when temptation and your flesh is demanding you submit?
- What would change if you truly believed your position in Christ is already secure?