attention + affection

I am needy.

I need more friends. I need more clothes. I need more shoes. I need more experiences. I need more adventure. I (always) need more donuts. I need recognition. I need more attention. I need more of everything.

need \ˈnēd\ : a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful; a physiological or psychological requirement for the well being of an organism

Aren't we all needy? Aren't we all just creatures who constantly need things? Food. Water. Help. Love. Comfort. Attention. Affirmation. We are creatures created to be dependent on things, on people, on something greater than that. 

Of all the things I'm needy for, attention is one of the big ones. No matter who it's from. Attention from my parents, teachers, my friends, the random boy at the party, the boy in my class, boys, boys, boys. You get the idea. Are we not all constantly searching for things to satisfy our needs and wants? Some turn to people for attention. Some turn to substances to suppress their needs. Some find other avenues to seek satisfaction for their needs. I know I'm always looking for other people to think I am funny for pretty or smart or good enough. 

Society tells us the same lies we tell ourselves. Our self-obsessed culture tells us that we need people to like us in order to be important. We need more Instagram likes, more Twitter followers, more friends to post pictures with, more boys to take us out on dates, more money to buy more clothes so that people will think MORE of us. More more more more more. We give away pieces of ourselves in exchange for superficial affirmation. We sacrifice our unique quirks so people will think we are more “normal.” We sacrifice our morals so that our peers will think we are more “fun.” We sacrifice our self worth so that society will think we are more “beautiful.” We seek to fit into molds of different shapes and sizes, and we sacrifice who we are in order to fit.

But when we turn to scripture (our only real source of truth and affirmation), we see that God tells us a different story. 

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.”

-Song of Songs 4:7

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” –Psalm 139:1-10

“The fear of human opinion disables, but the Lord protects you from that.”

–Proverbs 29:25

“Stop trusting in human beings who have but a breath in their nostrils; why hold them in esteem?” –Isaiah 2:22

When are we going to wake up and realized who we were created by and for? The same God who designed the constellations and put the planets into orbit designed our freckles and skeletons. The one who made the Andes Mountains and the Great Lakes placed every hair on your head and painted the color of your skin. The same God who organized the salvation of all of humanity is the God who is organizing your messy life each and every day. He is obsessed with you. He adores you so much that he looks past all your messiness—your sins, your insecurities, your flaws, your mistakes—and tells you that you are “beautiful” and known and well loved. He is paying so much attention to you, his beloved. He can’t take his eyes off you! He has created you and he is proud of you because you are HIS. You BELONG to the creator of the universe, the God of the galaxies, the King of Kings himself. What more can we ask for?

We spend so much time searching for more: people, possessions, affirmation, and attention. We seem to believe that we are not enough on our own. And we are correct. Alone, we are absolutely nothing. Worthless creations. Lonely people, wandering about, searching for purpose. Sad. Solitary. Ugly. Sinful. But with Jesus, we are new and complete creations, made beautiful and righteous and useful and worthy. With Jesus, we are called perfect, spotless, wonderful. We are so loved, so incredibly loved by a God who wants nothing more than for us to love him back. We are not called to seek the attention, affirmation, and affections of others, but rather to set our sights on the One who created us and loves and us and is after our hearts.

“For those who love according to the world set their minds on things of the world, but those who love according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the world is death, but to set the mind of the spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the world is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot. Those who are in the world cannot please God.” –Romans 8:5-8

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” –James 4:10

“…for I seek to please no one other than HE who sent me.” –John 5:30

We are needy. We are constantly in need of things to keep us going. We were not created to be independent and self-sufficient. The feeling you have in your heart—the void you can’t fill, the itch you can’t scratch, the craving that won’t go away—that is God’s relentless and perfect love begging you to let him in. The only one who can satisfy the human heart is the one who created it. No one on earth knows the patter in which your heart beats. No one here knows how many hairs are on your head. No one here knows the intricacies of your inner being. But God does. Only he knows the desires of your heart, the longing in your soul, the deep need for affection and attention and affirmation. Look to the one who knows you better than anyone else to fulfill your needs, for he is the only one who will every truly be able to.

 { I need you more than yesterday, I need your more than words can say, I need you more than ever before. I need you more, I need you Lord. More than the air I breathe, more than the songs I sing, more than anything, I need you more God. }

{ And I will lock eyes with the one who has chosen me, the one who set my feet to dancing. }

--Thank you to Bethel Music for always reminding me to rely on my Father--

God, thank you for creating me to be needy. I need you so much, every moment of every day. Please remind me daily that your love is enough to satisfy my soul, Father. That people and opportunities and earthly glory may come and try to satisfy me, but nothing here on earth can ever compare to you. Only you can bring me true love and joy. Please remind us all of your sovereignty and your perfect love, God. May we stop searching for attention elsewhere and fix our eyes on you.