Will Graham - Redeemed Bible Study Guide: How God Satisfies the Longing Soul

M y friend, there is no one out there quite like you. The way you look, the way you act, the way you believe, the things you say, your innermost thoughts... there are so many things that make you unique. As David says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together by God (Psalm 139:14). Before you were even born, your heavenly Father had a plan and a purpose just for you. You are special. You are His handiwork.

In other ways, however, I imagine that you are similar to most people on the planet.

Ive had the opportunity to travel the globe, preaching across six of the seven continents. Ive shared the hope of Jesus in massive stadiums in world-class cities, in small Australian outback towns, and in Himalayan villages. Ive ministered in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and north of the Arctic Circle. In doing so, Ive met people from countless different cultures and walks of life.

Throughout my journeys, I have come to realize thateven though we are each very uniquewe also share many of the same basic needs and desires. Of course, we need food, water, air, and shelter, but Im talking about something less physical and much deeper. Im talking about a spiritual hunger that comes from the depths of our souls.

We all feel the need for love and acceptance. We all desire hope and peace. We all seek purpose, safety, and fulfillment.

Everywhere you look, including in your church today, people are trying to fill these needs in their own power. They seek to satisfy the hunger through relationships, family, work, or hobbies. They fill their garage with cars and their homes with possessions. They may invest everything they have in philanthropic endeavors or serving others. Sadly, some even seek fulfillment in destructive behaviors that not only fail to fill the void but also leave them far worse than when they started.

No matter what we try, however, it cant fill that hole. Nothing we do can bring true happiness or peace. None of our individual efforts result in lasting hope. We strive, we struggle, we plead, we fightand yet the hunger remains.

When I began writing my book Redeemed, my pastor shared a message out of Psalm 107. That passageespecially verse 9stuck with me. It caught me in a way that it had not before. I filed it away and pondered it for some time.

Months later, as we were wrapping up the manuscript, my assistant was leading devotions for our team at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina, and she shared Psalm 107:9the exact same verse that I had been contemplating. I quickly realized it was not a coincidence that the verse bookended my writing. God was speaking to me and wanting me to share this very simple message:

For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

That short verse is so straightforward that many would be tempted to fly right past it, and yet it is entirely profound! Everything we search forall those elements the world finds so elusiveare found in Christ and Him alone!

He is the One who satisfies the deep longing of our soul. He fills that empty void with His goodness. Its not more stuff. Its not more work. Its not harmful vices. Its Jesus!

My grandfather once said theres a God-shaped hole in each of us, and none of our vain efforts can fill it. Only Christas we call upon Him and are redeemedcan fill that deep longing in our soul.

As we begin this study together, I hope you will be inspired to let go of your past and embrace the new life that Christ has for you as a child of the King. I pray that you will begin to realize His purpose for you and that you will be challenged to share with others that same peace, hope, and love you have found in Him.

Most of all, in the coming weeks, I pray that your longing soul will be filled with the goodness of the Father.

T he Redeemed Video Study is designed to be experienced in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or any small group gathering. Each session begins with a brief welcome section and several opening questions to get you thinking about the topic. You will then watch a video with Will Graham and jump into some directed small-group discussion. You will close each session with a time of prayer and personal reflection.

To get the most out of your group experience, keep the following points in mind. First, the real growth in this study will happen during your small-group time. This is where you will process the content of the teaching for the week, ask questions, and learn from others as you hear what God is doing in their lives. For this reason, it is important for you to be fully committed to the group and attend each session so you can build trust and rapport with the other members. If you choose to only go through the motions, or if you refrain from participating, there is a lesser chance you will find what youre looking for during this study.

Second, remember the goal of your small group is to serve as a place where people can share, learn about God, and build intimacy and friendship. For this reason, seek to make your group a safe place. This means being honest about your thoughts and feelings and listening carefully to everyone elses opinion. (If you are a group leader, there are additional instructions and resources in the back of the book for leading a productive discussion group.)

Third, resist the temptation to fix a problem someone might be having or to correct his or her theology, as thats not the purpose of your small-group time. Also, keep everything your group shares confidential. This will foster a rewarding sense of community in your group and create a place where people can heal, be challenged, and grow spiritually.