Need is a powerful motivator.
When we need, we seek, no matter the cost.
But sometimes our lives are smoothly going along and we don’t feel a great need. Nothing pressing or urgent anyway, and we may lose our sense of seeking.
Isn’t that one of the themes of scripture-especially the Book of Mormon? When times are hard, we feel our need and entreat the Lord for help and relief. But when times are good, we tend to stop relying on Him; become complacent or casual or distracted, maybe even prideful or self-congratulating.
It’s very human.
It doesn’t, however, speak very highly of our love or gratitude for Him who has given everything to and for us.
One answer for this tendency is to live recognizing our need that is always there-in good times and bad.
Our need for insight and strength beyond our own.
Our need for cleansing and rescue from sin, temptation, and the darkness of the world.
Our need for a capacity greater than ourselves.
Our need for purpose and meaning in our lives, for unfailing love and a sure and certain source of truth, light, knowledge, peace and power.
All of these needs, and more, never alter. We can cultivate an awareness for these needs daily as we meekly reach for Jesus to meet us in them, and countless other things.
Another answer for this forgetfulness is simply to seek Jesus out of love for Him, because we want to.
Christian writer Oswald Chambers perceptively wrote, “We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself.”
Regardless of our state of perceived neediness, if we just genuinely like what He has to offer, if we want to be in His presence because of who He is and the ways we are better with Him, we will be far less likely to forget or become casual. And will, in turn, recognize our need, because we cannot fail to do so when in His presence.
We truly need Him at all times. But even when we don’t feel desperate for His power, our love for Him alone can bring us to Him, can focus our days and fuel our decisions.
Really, it won’t be long before we feel the tugging need, because that is what mortality is like. How beautiful to have nurtured a relationship all along that will be the source of divine assistance when those times arise.
But also how beautiful to simply live in that relationship always. Because we want Jesus.
