“I am my beloved’s, And his desire is toward me.” Song of Solomon 7:10

The Heart’s Desire

In a discussion about intimacy with God with other women, several of us shared how we felt Jesus was engaged to us or how He made us feel like we were His favorite. We spoke of our love for Him and how we felt His presence and His loving care in our lives. Much to my amazement, several women expressed their desire for that kind of relationship. Someone spoke up to say, “It’s not like that for everyone.” Another woman was wiping away tears.

I was taken aback. The desire was there, but they felt they had not experienced this intimacy we were talking about. They didn’t know how to have a relationship with Someone they could not see or hear or touch. I didn’t know how to respond to the longing and the actual hurt I saw in their faces.

I could only share that it was not always so for me, but that my relationship and intimacy with God grew over time, through experiences in His faithfulness, through time in fellowship with Him, through prayer, through seeing Him show up in my need time and again. I tried to assure them that they were not “less than” and if they desired God, they most certainly would find Him.

We moved on to different subjects, but that moment haunted me. How have we missed it? I continue to pray for these women. I questioned myself. Did I sound self-righteous or arrogant in my bragging on God? Do these women need to be lovingly discipled? Do we need to teach in more practical and specific ways about how to develop and deepen relationship with the Divine?

This is a questioning and probing appeal to my fellow believers as to how we can come alongside these dear hearts who long for more of Jesus. This is also an invitation to anyone who wonders what is meant by “intimacy with God,” to share in the comments.

Father, You are as near as our breath. You are the rhythm of our heartbeat. You desire this intimacy with us even more than we can know. Reveal Your heart to each of us. Amen.”