Counterfeit comforts are lesser loves and shadows of the real thing. They can be people, places, or things that we seek to satisfy a craving and often act as a sanguine substitute that overpromises and under-delivers. Yet we are quick to entertain them because it’s harder to endure the discomfort of the craving more than it is to wait on God as our source of true satisfaction.
Think about the counterfeit comforts you allow in your life. You can typically trace them back to fractures or fault lines from living among imperfect people in a crazy world. Places where you’ve been hurt, disappointed, or flat out neglected. It’s in these fragmented places that we seek to satisfy the deep yearnings of our broken soul that only God can satisfy. As a result, we adopt attitudes, form beliefs, and allow behaviors to dictate our habits.
Truth is that our need is not our problem. We all have needs that demand our attention so we are wise to see them as an opportunity to receive a better more satisfying gift, one only God can give. He created us for relationship and has designed us to need Him. But if we don’t feel satisfied quick enough we look outside God to the lesser loves and counterfeit comforts we’ve depended on, even though they are painstakingly limited.
Not surprisingly, it’s our humanness that draws us back to them even when they stop working for us and turn against us, even enslave us.
Allowing God to meet you in your place of pain and fulfill your need for comfort, connection, or anything else you are seeking is the only true satisfaction for a soul that is bent toward heaven. This challenges me and I hope it challenges you too. This week, notice any place you seek to be satisfied by counterfeit comforts and lesser loves. Acknowledge it, and then allow a little room for God to show up with a more fulfilling gift.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:9)
- What counterfeit comforts do you seek in moments of anxiety and temptation?
- How have these helped or hurt you?
- Practice inviting God into your place of need when you want that lesser love.
Consider praying through the pain of your craving and allowing God to meet you there.
Prayer is just a conversation with God. Talk to Him today about where you were hurt and make room for Him to heal you.
Be bold. Be brave. Be free.
Dori
Get THE CRAVE COACH App today [FREE download] Real-time help for right-now cravings!