Longing… Painful or Pleasant?

Longing for meaning, purpose, and happiness is both painful and pleasant. 

Too long for something is to desire what you do not have. 

To not have what you desire is to feel lack or emptiness. 

To lack or be empty is not pleasant but painful.

However, there is also no longing without hope.

If we have no hope, we cannot allow ourselves to feel longing out fear of not getting what we long for.

Without hope, our longing must be shut down or numbed or it will drive us to despair.  The reason people commit suicide is they lose hope. 

If we have hope of obtaining what we long for, we pursue it with excitement and anticipation of fulfillment. The greater the hope, the greater the excitement and anticipation. 

For these reasons, longing is both painful and pleasant at the same time.

Rom 8:24  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

Rom 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.