Yard sales. I’ve never really liked them. But when we were preparing to move from our home of twenty years, we decided it was the best way to clean out the clutter and make a little money.
We displayed our lovely attic décor on makeshift plywood tables and waited for the bargain babes to descend. Two hours before the advertised opening time, treasure hunters began congregating outside the closed garage doors. Then, the doors rose and the swarm attacked.
Among the valuables from my past sat an electric, ceramic 12” Christmas tree with various colored lights…no doubt a gift from the eighties. One woman perused the lovely display and came upon this “magnificent work of art.”
“I’ve always wanted one of these!” she declared with excitement in her voice. “How much is it?”
“Three dollars,” my husband, Steve, answered.
“Humph,” she grunted and walked on.
Steve and I just looked at each other and stifled our laughter.
Let’s rewind the scene for a moment. This woman said she had always wanted a ceramic Christmas tree just like that one. (I’m not here to judge another person’s dreams. That’s just what she said.) Always. Her whole life. And here it was! For a mere $3, her dream could have come true! The search over! Most likely we would have sacrificed this masterpiece for $2, but she didn’t even ask. She just shrugged and walked away.
As I watched the woman walk away, I thought about the Pharisees in the Bible. For years they waited for the coming of the promised Messiah. Prayed about it. Preached about it. Prepared for it.
Then when Jesus showed up, they turned their backs and walked away. “Humph,” they said with a shrug. “No thanks.”
But am I much different? Maybe not about yard sale treasures or Jesus, but other desires?
How many times do we long for a particular dream to come true in our lives? Search for it. Obsess over it. A husband. A child. A job. A home.
Then one day, there it is! It can be ours! The search is over. We say our “I do’s,” bring home the bundle of joy, log in our first eight hours, hang the last curtain.
But then, a little time passes. The husband is not as romantic as we had hoped, the kids are not as obedient as we had imagined, the job isn’t as rewarding as we had envisioned, and the house is a never-ending maze of maintenance.
“Humph,” we grumble. We thought we wanted something, and then when we got it, we decided we really didn’t want it after all.
Let me take it one step further. How many times do we long for love, joy, and peace in our lives? We search for it, long for it, and pray about it. Then someone points us to the cross and says, “There it is. It can be yours for the asking. It’s not even $3, $2 or $1. It’s free!”
Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10 NIV). He’s what we’ve been looking for! Nothing satisfies the soul like what Jesus supplies for me.
Dear friend, God is holding out His Holy hand with the most magnificent gift of all time. Click & Tweet! Love, joy, and peace personified in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is what you have always been longing for, searching for, watching for. The joy you’ve wanted all your life.
P.S. I was in a store Saturday and saw that these ceramic Christmas trees are back! And it was a lot more than $5. I had to laugh!!!!!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making all my dreams come true. You have given me everything I have ever longed for in the person of Jesus Christ. Please forgive me for turning my back on Your amazing Gift and trying to fill my longings with people and possessions. I know that nothing will ever satisfy my desire for peace, love, and joy except Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Have you ever searched and searched for something, and then when you found it, you realized it wasn’t so great after all? Make a list. If you’re like me, it is probably long…if you’re honest. Click on comment and share three.
Do you long for something more in your relationship with God? The good news is that “something more” does not mean “doing more.” Learn how to experience God’s presence right smack dab in the middle of your busy day in Sharon’s book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More.
Click here to watch a 1:38 minute video of Sharon’s dog Molly talking about being careful what you ask for!
Comments 15
I think back and one of my deepest longings was to be a mother. I struggled with infertility, but was blessed with two bio children and years later adopted two more. Yes, I did experience wonderful joy and fulfillment in this role, but I have also experienced the deepest, heart-crushing rejection and hurts. I am learning that only Jesus can love me well and completely, so my need can only be filled by Him. I am learning to forgive over and over again and only through Him to love when it’s so hard.
Houses after houses. For some unknown reason, I keep thinking the next house will be “my happy place”. I am driving my husband batty and my children are nervous when they see me scrolling on Zillow! This devotion will be one I come back to and ponder. Thank you for a wonderful, timely reminder that He is ALL we keep searching for!
Awww should have given the tree to her.
OH HOW FUNNY IS YOUR DOG VIDEO! Thank you for this devotion, I wish I could forward to LOTS of friends! This is a good learning lesson – will definitely share on facebook!
Author
Thank you, Dori!!!!!
What a wonderful comparison! Can so relate to this post. Thank you for sharing.
Shared..
Thank you, this really spoke to me .
Know comment
1. Joined the military for a career. Not what I thought it was. Made it to 3 years before honorable discharge.
2. Got a leadership position. Not what I thought it would be like. Changed jobs.
3. Everything I buy. Not as advertised. Is it too late to become a minimalist?
I would have paid $5😊
Seriously the only joy I find in my life right now is Jesus.
Divorce after 34yrs
All my grands are teens, and way too busy for their Nina. Unless they are hungry😊
My two girls are in the throes of juggling family and jobs.
Been there, know it well.
I find my daily strength in James 1: 2-4.
Carol💕🙏
1. Driving a car…I always wanted to drive…when I learned, I realized I didn’t like driving
Great story and analogy
The devotion is so powerful, half the time we behave like the Pharisees. We are ever searching for this and that and yet forget that all we need is GOD for life is just like vapour as James puts it. Thank you for sharing
This resonates.
We often don’t factor the cost of what we want: we pray for various successes but we don’t include God in the process of where we are and where we are growing towards.
Of late I’ve learning to have God in my process: I asked for a promotion and I got it: it demands more of me: leadership, technical expertise. I’m learning to lay my plans before him, seek Him for wisdom. And ensure I don’t cut back on my time with Him because He is my anchor. Bible reading, prayers, devotions.