Ever get sucked into believing something was the real thing only to find out it was an imitation instead? I sure have!
I had to learn a hard lesson this Christmas when due to COVID, I found myself doing more shopping online instead of going to the stores. I started out wanting to buy a beautiful doll for our new granddaughter. Not just any doll would do; I wanted one that would be special, one that she would want to hopefully hold on to for many years to come. I looked at all kinds of stores and sites online but there was one that kept popping up on my Facebook page and was it adorable!
I finally thought I would bite the bullet and go ahead and order it even though I hadn鈥檛 heard of the company before. I anxiously waited, several weeks until my package arrived. As you can well imagine the doll I received looked absolutely nothing like the one pictured online! I couldn鈥檛 bring myself to give it to my granddaughter and actually to even look at it now makes me sick. After some homework I found that a doll like I wanted would have cost hundreds of dollars鈥ot the $60 I spent.
It has, however, been a reminder to me of how many times we can settle for the counterfeit things instead of going for the real thing. It has been said that within each of us is a 鈥淕od shaped vacuum鈥� that only He can fill. We grab for the dazzling thing in front of us: trips, clothes, friends, renovations, online shopping, anything to help fill the void we feel inside, instead of going to the source of true satisfaction, Jesus! Everything else fades rather quickly and at times is just down right disappointing.
Matthew 11:28-29 says, 鈥淭hen Jesus said, 鈥淐ome to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.鈥�
These days I think we all want to find rest for our souls. Something, or 鈥� better yet 鈥� someone that completely satisfies. If you have been disappointed with life, much like I was with my online doll purchase, I can assure you that calling out to Jesus and asking Him to take your heavy burden, whatever that may be, He will give you rest for your soul.
