We have been looking at various emotions and feelings in the bible this year as our focus on spiritual growth the first week of each month. From anger to God’s emotions, from joy to fear, we seek guidance form the good book.

As I have been developing the study on hope, I have been struck by the many examples of longing that we find in the Bible. I think most often, what we see is a longing for family and children. However, we also see God’s longing for a relationship with him. We find a longing for fellowship and a longing for something that is not ours to be had (lust). The longing that we experience can be a longing that will being glory to God as much as it may introduce sin into our lives.

Glory to God in our longings

The first account of longing that comes to my mind is that of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1-2. Hannah was one of two wives of a man named Elkanah, and the other wife had many children while Hannah had none. Hannah was tortured by this and would be found weeping and couldn’t (or wouldn’t) eat. She wept bitterly and was downhearted. This word ‘downhearted’ means that she was distressed and grieved. I think today we would say that she was depressed, severely. Her longing was such that she experienced this to her core, daily, all the time.

And she brought this intense yearning to the Lord. She made it clear that her life in him was the most important thing by calling on him to do or not do this thing that she longed for- having a child. God saw where Hannah’s heart was and remembered her. She gave birth to a son, who she then gave back to God. When he was old enough, likely about four years old, she took her child and left him in the care of Eli, the priest, to raise him. Her dedication to God was such that she gave back all that God had given her. 1 Samuel 2 includes a touching prayer of Hannah praising God. Hannah and Elkanah visited Samuel regularly and they had five more children after him. Hannah longed for someone, a child, and gave that longing to God who fulfilled it.

Our desires may be our own or they may be from God. The only way we will know is if we give them over to God and he responds. There is a common prayer that I have prayed, ‘Lord if this is not your will, take the desire from me.’ He is faithful to do so. When we place God’s will above our own and ask from him rather than acting or longing without expressing it to him, we may find ourselves in trouble.

Secret desires

Longing, in psychology, is apparently called the ‘secret emotion’. Our longings are not those that we speak of openly. We know that what stays in the dark is not of God, for he is of light. When we begin by speaking to God of these secret desires, we will find solace and companionship first – drawing nearer to Him. We may choose to speak to others as well, though the priority must be what God has prepared for us.

Some longings are kept secret because we know they are not good for us. Longing for our married neighbor, coveting money kept in the cash register at work, longing for the newest car that Tesla or Mercedes has just announced, these are the ones that are temptations to sin. The line between appreciation and coveting is a fine one. By talking things over with God and other trusted Christians we can keep in the right, with God’s help.

This secret longing may be for more time and money to travel, for a child, for a spouse, for recognition at work, and many other things. None of these are bad in and of themselves, but they too could turn our hearts to covet them. Bringing them into the open and inviting God into the desire is what will keep us levelheaded. Hannah was an example where the longing was kept in proper order or priority in her life.

There are many examples where the longing that was experienced was not healthy and ordered behind God: making a golden calf, seeking the wife of another, seeking glory in battle rather than glory for God. By carrying them into the light, we will be directed by God to know his will and align ours to his.

Longing fulfilled

God will always be our greatest longing fulfilled. When I consider the emptiness that I have experienced when I turned away from him, it fills me with sadness. In reading a bit about longing, I found an article from a psychologist who said she always experienced a restlessness and that she has sought to fill it many ways, but it never goes away. You and I may recall that feeling, but no more. We have found that answer to our longings in Jesus. Hallelujah!

Is there something that we can pray for that you long for? Please share below.

If you would like to share a secret longing, please send me an email so we can pray together.