The time I spend riding my road bike on my trainer in the mornings usually evolves into a soul trip. My body stays in the garage. My heart and head review photos and videos. Some from the past. Others from the “What if?” future.
This morning the AirPods music included the lyrics “Though the earth may try to satisfy my heart, Though the earth may try to tell me You’re not faithful, Though the earth may try to blind me to your goodness, You shine through.”
Life on earth offers incredible satisfaction.
God’s goodness immerses our senses in oak leaves turning orange and views of the lake thanks to those same falling leaves.
He love-wraps our hearts with faithful spouses and all-forgiving children and grandchildren.
He fills our souls with people of integrity whose words and actions unite in them doing what they say they’ll do.
God shines through those in satisfying ways.
But broken promises and broken health. No forgiveness and limited love. Pain and loss and children dying before you. Those fall into the “not good nor of God” category.
We struggle to see God shining through such nightmares.
Only when seen through Jesus does life on earth make sense. His walk from manger to cross to tomb to His Father’s side victory changes the journey.
It provides a satisfying ending to suffering and failure.
It reframes families who don’t understand you and best friends who leave you and life ending in your 30s.
Jesus satisfies our hearts longing for justice.
Jesus demonstrates God’s faithfulness to never abandon us.
Jesus reveals God’s goodness of loving us simply because He loves us.
He brings ultimate hope into any and every situation we face.
He always shines through.