An Unfulfilled Craving

We all want to be accepted. This desire for acceptance drives us to do many things as teenagers so that we can be seen as “cool”. But that hunger for approval does not fade as we get older. If anything it gets stronger. “The desperate need to belong doesn’t end with high school graduation; it haunts us for the rest of our lives.”1 As adults we still seek for ways to fulfill our desire for acceptance. We no longer buy the in style clothes so that people will respect us. But we will purchase the latest cell-phone or electronic devices for that same reason.

Buying expensive shirts will not bring us unconditional acceptance. Neither will the latest digital camera or PDA. Those things will bring us popularity for a short amount of time. But before long a new style of clothes, or better technology will come along. And when that happens you will have no choice but to spend more money. This vicious cycle can only end with a huge amount of debt, and normally not many friends.

Others try to fill this need for acceptance through dating or marriage. The emotion at the beginning of a romantic relationship is definitely enough to make a person feel accepted. But the emotion of the relationship will only last a month or two. Most of those who fill their acceptance cravings through relationships will end the relationship after the emotion is gone. They will go from one relationship to another desperately seeking something that can fill their longing for acceptance. But their vicious cycle is destined to end in a broken heart and countless shattered relationships.

Still others seek satisfy this hunger through money. They make becoming rich the goal of their entire lives. And some of them do reach that goal. But they are never satisfied with the money that they have. Almost all of them are focused on getting just a little bit more. “If I make more money then people will have to accept me”, they tell themselves. But those individuals are so focused on making money they don’t see the pain they are bringing upon themselves, and others. Their cycle will end with huge amounts of money that can not bring happiness to their souls.

Why is it that people try to fill this longing with acceptance with countless things, but never satisfy it? The reason is because that desire can only truly be met through an intimate relationship with God. For it is only through God that we can find true acceptance. Others will accept us as long as we have the latest technology, the relationship is filled with emotion, or we have lots of money. God will accept us unconditionally if we will repent of our sins and turn to him. But sadly we many times try to fill that craving in our hearts with things that will never really satisfy. While rejecting the one person who can truly satisfy it.