Satisfaction Comes in the Morning

You’ve heard it said, “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

            Have you also heard that “satisfaction comes in the morning” (Psalm 17:15, paraphrase)?

That’s the way I’d paraphrase the last part Psalm 17. The Psalmist contrasts himself with the wicked, “whose portion is in this life” and who are “satisfied with children” (Psalm 17:14). In contrast, the Psalmist writes, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness” (17:15). When the writer opens his eyes and the world floods in, with all its cares and concerns, he looks to his God and finds satisfaction for his soul.

            In a world that calls us to wake up, get dressed, go to work, and try to find a bit of contentment, followers of Jesus should find rest for their souls before they ever swing their feet out of the bed. The contentment and happiness and satisfaction we long for isn’t found in the pursuit of a career, in getting the kids dressed and out the door on time, or the bowl of cereal we are eager to eat. In fact, we don’t have to go anywhere to find our ultimate treasure. We open our eyes and, since we’re already flat on our backs, we look straight up and remember the One who is our greatest treasure.

            Christian Hedonism doesn’t merely teach that we pursue joy in Jesus, but that we are satisfied in Jesus. John Piper says it this way, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” That’s true. Our whole life is meant to aim at the glorification of God. And the ultimate pathway to glorifying God is finding your satisfaction in him. You get the joy and he gets the glory.

            Today, as you raise your children, eat your cereal, and perform at work, remember to do all those things for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Yet, don’t find your ultimate happiness in any of those things. Your children are not the final source of your satisfaction. Your cereal will taste good for a moment, but it will not sustain you for long. You work is meaningful, but it is not ultimate.

            Instead, before you pursue other (good) things today, find satisfaction in the God who created you, saved you, and satisfies you in Jesus.

            And from now on, when you awake, strive to see and be satisfied in Jesus. When you do, you find that joy does indeed come in the morning.