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“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
God so beautifully and clearly tells us in His Word that He alone satisfies. And yet, we find ourselves looking to other things for fulfillment, peace, and lasting joy. Even a “good thing” has the potential to distract us from the fullness of joy that is found in Christ alone, especially when we want that "good thing" too much-when we want it more than we want God Himself. I’ve seen this all too often in my own heart over the course of my life, always looking to the “next good thing” to bring me happiness. “When I just get to college/get a job/get married/get pregnant/have a baby/sleep through the night again/have another baby/adopt/end the diaper season/feel better/see my child overcome that obstacle/etc...THEN I’ll be truly happy.” But even when I have found myself in the circumstance I was hoping for, satisfaction is short lived and suddenly I’m looking ahead to the next thing in hopes that will bring me lasting joy. We can probably all identify with being “too easily pleased.”
"It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis
I’ve found that the adoption process shines a bright light on this tendency of ours to look for satisfaction in something other than Jesus. As someone who has gone through the adoption process twice and walked many adoptive families through their adoption journeys, I know all too well how easy it is to think that happiness is found in a child. A baby is a good thing-a gift from God! And yet, a baby is not what satisfies the soul. Cognitively we know that, but trying to convince your heart that infinite joy isn’t really found in a baby coming home to you is harder than it seems when you are in the thick of the wait! During the “waiting” time it really does feel like the only way you’ll be fully at peace or happy is when an expectant mom chooses you. But then you’re chosen, and suddenly it feels like true happiness won’t come until the mom actually signs consents. And then she signs and it feels like you won’t really be able to breathe and be at peace until finalization. And then, the adoption is complete; a finalized adoption is wonderful but you will not find unending soul-satisfying joy in your child. The only person who brings soul-satisfying infinite joy is Jesus.
“The evil in our desires typically does not lie in what we want, but that we want it too much.” - John Calvin
There are so many good things that we can desire in adoption, and most of those things are good desires! The problem doesn't lie with us wanting "good things" but that we want them more than we want God. These "good things" will not bring us the soul-satisfaction that Christ alone brings. So go to Him. Remind yourself that only He really satisfies. Ask Him to help you seek to find your satisfaction in Him alone. Remind yourself of what life is really about: Jesus! This world is not our home. Tell yourself again and again the Gospel-that Christ has come and met your greatest need: to be saved from your sin! You are powerfully and thoroughly loved by the Maker of the Universe who will never change, never fail you, and never leave you. Don’t give in to the lie that real happiness is found in something other than Him. In Jesus alone there is fullness of joy!
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