Hungry?

I notice his posture first. Standing with his hands in his pockets he has the casual slump of a typical teenager. Dark brown hair pulled to a ridge (called a faux hawk by the trendy) point, it reminds me of silly boy cartoons from the past. Brown eyes intently watch the server filling up his plate with warm and appetizing food. Anticipation clearly marks his face as he waits for his serving.

I am surprised! But why? The food smells good to me, too. Then it dawns on me, he’s just hungry. This youth who may cause his mother to worry about the future, his father to frown, and his teachers to doubt… is …just hungry.

In an instant I feel a bond with this young stranger as I realize that I, too, am … just hungry. Of course, we are all hungry. We all want and need food. But we have other hungers in common, too.

Just to start with WE ARE…

…hungry for love.

…hungry for acceptance.

…hungry for a sense of belonging.

…hungry for understanding.

…hungry to be acquainted with.

…hungry for approval.

…hungry for appreciation.

…hungry for recognition.

…hungry to be known.

…hungry for peace.

…hungry for mercy.

…hungry for forgiveness.

Does God’s Word address our hunger?

• John 6:34-36 Amplified Bible (AMP) “Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time). “

• Luke 1:52-53 (AMP) “He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree. He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed [without a gift].

Should we be doing anything about our hunger?

• Luke 3:10-12 New Living Translation (NLT) The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”

• Romans 12:19-21 The Message (MSG) Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

• Philippians 2:13-15 (MSG) Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

A teenager, an exhausted parent, a middle-aged woman, a grumpy customer, a stressed man, a doubting believer, a struggling individual, a worn out employee, a tired nurse: we are all hungry. We are all in some mode of survival: pushing, fighting, resisting, clawing, grabbing, reaching, stretching, or grasping. If perchance, you are in rest mode, catching your breath, then you are aware and understand the struggle others are going through. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines compassion as: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Compassion for us and from us is God’s idea.

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (MSG) The Rescue “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.”

Oh God, I am so blessed yet I quickly forget these blessings as soon as my eyes notice some obstacle or the taunting thought that ‘this can’t last’ starts to darken a bright moment. Please help me to remember that YOU will satisfy my hunger and that I will know and feel Your love within as I reach out to others in patience, with kindness, while overlooking offenses, and extending the hand of friendship. Please help me to be strong and do my best and You will do the rest. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins