Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit in this crazy world? That you’re not at home here on earth? That even with Christ in your life something is still missing? The reason is because you’re not at home, and something is missing.
[tweetherder]C. S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in the world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”[/tweetherder](The sun rising at my house.)
I don’t know about you, but I find great comfort in those words. When I feel like there just has to be something more…I can rest in knowing that there is. I’m not crazy after all.
Solomon reminds us, “He (God) has planted eternity in the human heart,” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). You were made for eternity, for glory, and as long as your feet are here on this earth, you will experience a glory ache that only heaven can fully satisfy. You will feel a certain something missing that may be hard to define.
One Spring, our family hosted a ten-year-old Russian foreign exchange student. He went to school with my son and got a taste of what the American Christian family is all about. Alex’s English was very limited and we depended on hand signals and facial expressions to get by.
On one occasion, I was trying to get him to write a letter to his parents. I pulled out the stationary, handed him a pen, and pointed to a picture of his mother and father. “Why don’t you write a letter to your parents,” I suggested. He had no idea what I was talking about.
For twenty minutes I drew pictures and tried to get him to understand what I wanted him to do. Finally, with tears in his eyes, he looked up at me and said, “What do?”
I just hugged him and put the pen and paper away.
Oftentimes I feel like our little foreign exchange student. I see beauty mingled with pain and suffering and wonder…what do? I feel close to God but not close enough, and I cry…what do? I see glimpses of God’s presence, but the ache never quite goes completely away, and I look toward heaven and pray…what do?
Then God reminds me that I am not home yet. I am an alien and a stranger in this world in which I temporarily live (1 Peter 1:2, 2:11). My citizenship, your citizenship, is in heaven and we are just passing through this wonderful, very fleeting point in time and space we call life. [tweetherder]There will always be a tension between the physical world and our new born-again spirit that was made for eternity.[/tweetherder]
Another translation of Ecclesiastes 3:11 reads, “He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy],” (AMP).
Not until we see Jesus face-to-face will the lingering glory ache completely subside. I can almost hear the collective “ahhhh” that is sure to come when we believers exhale our last earthly breath and inhale eternity for the first time.
Through my study of the glory ache and God’s balm of sudden glories that brim from living in sacred union, I have come to realize that total healing for the ache will come when I finally make it home. The door upon which I have been knocking all my life will finally swing open when I step into eternity.
The glory ache will not be satisfied by working harder or by doing more, but by living a life of sacred union in which Acts 17:28, “In Him we live and move and have our being,” becomes a practical and perpetual reality in your life.
Until then, the glory ache will be soothed …
By erasing the lines that separate the sacred from the secular so that every endeavor becomes an act of worship.
By joining God’s continual conversation as He pursues you, romances you, and speaks to you first one way and then another.
By daring to raise your expectations and enter into His world.
By taking His hand and joining Him in the divine dance of obedience where you follow His lead in a unique choreography designed just for you.
By opening the windows of heaven through words of gratitude and grace.
In each of these venues, God softly announces His presence through shimmering hues of radiance, tapping gently at your consciousnesses and seeking entrance into the moments of your day.
But even then…the glory ache will not go away completely, for we see as through a glass dimly. The dull throb of “homesickness” will remain until we see Him face-to-face and experience the joy of His presence in unrestricted ecstasy. Until then, God gives us glimpses of glory here on earth.
What are some moments of sudden glory you have experienced in the past few weeks? How has God made His presence known to you?
(The sun setting at my house.)
Want More?
If you long to experience the presence of God on a daily basis, know this…God wants it even more. To learn more, click over to y special web-page I have set aside for A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response for Something More. Download a sample chapter and watch free video lessons.
Comments 21
When chaos is all around, I drive to my sister’s home only to find a family of 4 deer grazing by the side of the road, and peace settles over me.
That’s cool!!!
I was praying and Church was earlier and I have a relationship with Lord and have been Ron again of water and spirit and My 1st goal is to make it to heaven honestly and so I was praying and I felt like something was missing in it I asked for forgiveness thanked Him and prayed but I read this and If Im right it’s a glory ache?
A family of 4 deer is quietly grazing by the side of the road, and I stop and take in the peace around me for several minutes.
An instrumental version of Amazing Grace is playing on my computer right now. How peaceful the sound of this song, yet how powerful the message. God is reminding me of His Amazing Grace today and always. 🙂
I like that expression, a glory ache. Oh how I feel it so intensely sometimes! I immediately thought of Buddy Greene’s song, “I don’t belong”. We belong to a Kingdom not of this world, but of the next. Thank you for expressing this so well, Sharon.
I am so thankful that God is slowly teaching me to see his glory and hear his voice. I am growing in his love and learning to trust him more. I am struggling right now with some issues that need to be handled for God’s glory. I’ve been trying to give it to God. Yesterday afternoon I believe God showed himself to me. Gave me a verse I had read and commented about in my devotional Psalms reading last week. I shouldn’t concern myself with what is too big to grasp. But give it to God and let him take control. He gave me peace that things will work out for his glory. He’s done that more and more since I started getting into His word. Praise God.
For me, a male Cardinal bird has always represented or reminded me, of Christ in my heart. I’m sure The Lord places those connections in us. These past couple of years have been an unusually difficult period of trial after trial. I cannot tell you how often HE has brought a bright red Cardinal to stare in the window during a time of prayer, or in a tree as I would sit in our yard in tears, or hear his song in the distance! Each time… reminding me “I am the great I AM and I AM in the midst of this situation and in control of all things!!” HE would wipe my tears and gently move me forward. Precious reminders of HIS presence with us 24/7!! And, incredible “glory moments” of encouragement! 🙂 HE’S amazing!
“This is exactly what I’ve experienced for years and now I understand that I am not alone in this. How beautiful is your explanation of internal and eternal hope for Him. I am delighted by your message today. It has answered my questions of hope, healing and why I feel the way I do so frequently. Thank you for delivering His message to me through your writing.
Thank you for allowing Him to use you to reach the very depth of my soul and remind me that I am never alone.
In His love,
Terry”
“Thank you, Sharon, for your faithfulness as you continue to share God’s word.
In His love, Betsy”
Quite Morn. Reading Gods word, then being still and listening:)
“This is what I needed to hear today. I’ve been struggling with myself and my life decisions that I made at a young age that cannot be changed. There was always something missing from my life that didn’t feel fully satisfying. I felt that I was always going to have a “”what-if I did this instead”” kind of thinking. I know that I don’t have to think that way anymore because God allowed that to happen for a reason. I also read this morning “”For I consider that our present sufferings cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.”” Romans 8:18.
Thank you so much, Sharon. You’re a blessing.”
“It’s so interesting when God has shown me something by the Holy Spirit and then it’s confirmed through another believer. It’s a message to the Body where ever they are located.
Very helpful post, great reminder and Gwen I related to what you said too.
I always say that when something that takes our breath away on earth happens, like the dew drop on the flower, the sun set or the varied colors of fallen leaves, God has given us a taste of Heaven. He knows none of us can live without those glimpses – whether we are born again or not – He has planted eternity in the human heart and we hunger for His presence whether we know Him or not.
My most recent glorious moment was simple. I was sitting on my couch today with my 2 year old grandson when he reached for my hand just to hold it peacefully in his. He loves me. I love him. That was more than enough today. .”
“Sharon – I just returned from a mission trip to Cuba. I spoke to women there in 3 different services ranging from 50-200 women at a time. I was overwhelmed and had been praying about what to say to them. I used the book Knowing God by Name and used Elohim and Yaweh lessons in the book to communicate to them. I was overwhelmed with this opportunity and God used your book in a mighty way to encourage the ladies in Cuba! 4 people were saved on Wed – praise God!! I just wanted to thank you for allowing God to use you to do a ministry all over the world!
Servants in Christ – Belyn”
“Sharon,
The autumn foliage here in southern Maine has just been spectacular! Reds, golds and oranges dazzle with radiant joy in the rays of the sun, and on cloudy, dreary days they appear even more glorious! I am reminded that when times are dark, I must think of my favorite Scripture verses to brighten my mood. I am always praising God for my eyes! And another glory moment was the time there was seeing a big doe – right on the sidewalk by a busy street about a mile away from our house one night on our way home from a church supper! I looked over and there she was – and in 26 years of living here, I have never seen any deer in that area of town.
Our God is good! He is an awesome God! May your blessings be bountiful, your troubles be few and know that God is always, keeping His eye on you.”
We do need to be still and know He is God in us. I am learning not to look outside myself but to go inside to find my true being. It is not in the air or even in the universe but inside where that still small voice is, praise God for that.
GOOD MORNING SHARON! YOUR MESSAGE THAT I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS AM BLESSED ME SO. I HAVE FELT LIKE WHAT YOU DESCRIBED ALL MY LIFE. NOW I KNOW WHY!!! THANK YOU LORD I AM NOT CRAZY AFTER ALL. I NOW REALIZE THAT THIS EMPTY FEELING INSIDE WILL SOON BE FILLED. FILLED WITH SOMETHING SO FAR GREATER THAN ANY PRIZE ON THIS EARTH! THANK YOU SHARON FOR OBEYING GOD AND TAKING TIME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS PASSED THRU OUR LORD!!!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
I love God’s guidelines because I need them so much. I just went through this, this week. Instead of waiting on God, I interfered (as I often do) and I made myself sick with worry. I have been praying all week and finally today I heard from my sister and was able to clear up the whole mess and ask and receive her forgiveness.
My goal now is to wait on God.
Thank You Jesus.
Good morning Sharon! Thank you so much for this post! I read it the day it was sent to my email and I just happened to be going through my saved files and came across this one. Am I ever so grateful for saved files and your posts! I know about the glory ache and I’ve been reading A Sudden Glory, but that “something is missing” feeling as been stronger than ever. I feel your little foreign exchange student most days…”what do?” Thank you, again, for shedding light on my ache for more. May God continue to bless you.
A Sudden Glory… oohh I have experienced as I read each page of the book. I have so many notes, so many highlights on my journal, I can’t get enough of God!! I started reading on my kindle… and boy my kindle has become my best friend, never leaving it behind just so I can keep on reading. Sharon thank you so much for writing this book for me. I felt so lost for a long time, trying to search for an answer. I thought something is wrong with me. Indeed , I realized that there is something wrong with how I approach God and this book made me realized he’s been there all along and He’s more than willing to make me feel his love romance all over and over again. God bless you for allowing God to use you in such a profound way. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Author
I can tell by your email that you GOT it!
🙂 Thank you Sharon! I can’t wait for an opportunity to meet you in person. I keep checking your calendar hoping you’ll be here in California sometime soon. I am thinking of getting a couple more of this book to give as Christmas present to my girlfriends.