using your desires constructively

Where do our desires come from? We all have similar desires. We ¹all desire love, happiness, tranquility, meaning, purpose, pleasure and so on. What do we do with these desires? Are they imaginary? Are they legitimate? Do we ignore them and pretend they don't exist? 

Having desire also raises a different question. If we are simply the result of time plus chance, with no source of origin, why do we desire these things to begin with? To desire meaning suggest we exist for a purpose, not merely by chance. 

In reality every desire is ultimately a desire for God. They are there because He is the source of love, joy, peace, happiness, delight, beauty and infinite worth - i.e. all the things we desire - and because we were created for Him - i.e. designed to find satisfaction of all of these things ²in Him. 

We have, however, sought to have these desires satisfied elsewhere instead, where they can never be truly and fully. If we try to meet them in and through others or things other than God, we will never find ³lasting satisfaction. The finite (created things) can never satisfy a void meant to be filled by the infinite God.

Whenever we experience a desire for something other than God we should let it remind us that ultimately our desires can only be satisfied in and through him. Instead of avoiding or suppressing our desires or acting on them by seeking some short-term satisfaction, we should let them drive us into a stronger pursuit of God where our desires were intended to be met i.e. We should enter into those desires as fully as possible -- not numb them with some temporary pleasure of creation. We should let them stir our hearts to press harder into God for satisfaction. It is only in him they were designed to be fulfilled and can be satisfied. 

For a further discussion on whether desires are good or bad click here 

For a further discussion on where desires come from click here 

For a further discussion on why God is desirable click here 

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¹since these qualities are common to us all, this says something very significant about humanity and how we relate to each other. This also says something significant about the common origin and purpose for our existence. We are all created equally in our desire to find meaning and significance because we are all created to know God, who is the ultimate source of all things.

²Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

 Psalm 63 

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help, 
    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

³And the joy we find in Him now is only a taste of what is to come.  Overflowing, uninterrupted fullness does not occur until we see Him face to face. And once we do we will be like him.