“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11)
We were created for relationship, and therefore we feel lonely when we lack meaningful connections. Today, I want to take this thought one step further: interactions between humans can’t fully satisfy our needs. Relationships with the people around us are important. But having good friends or a loving family alone won’t satisfy our deepest longings. Being part of a community is great, but it cannot give our lives meaning beyond death. Deep and lasting joy can only be found in a personal relationship with God.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with God and with one another. This changed when they disobeyed His command and ate from the one tree He had forbidden. They realized they could no longer stand as holy before their Creator and hid from Him.
As a consequence of their sin, they were banished from the Garden of Eden, away from God’s presence. This left an emptiness in their hearts that nobody else could fill completely.
The rest of the Bible tells the story of God’s initiative to restore the broken relationship. For only in His presence can humans experience fullness of joy — and that’s what He desires for us.
Do you consider a relationship with God important? What has your own experience been?