I don’t actually know the origin of the saying , “You can’t miss what you never had”, but I do know that it’s not completely true. I suspect this saying is very popular with those who are dealing with financial hardship or during times of growth in technological breakthroughs, the price of which are often beyond the reach of the average person. This saying might be a consolation to people who don’t have the means to “keep up with the Joneses” or are needing to be content with what they have for various reasons, but when applied to things other than tools or gadgets, I can’t see that it would help anyone.
Can you imagine someone who had never had a loving family stating and actually believing that you can’t miss a family if you’ve never had one? Or a needy person saying that you can’t miss shoes and adequate clothing, meals and shelter if you’ve never had them? Yeah, me neither. It’s obvious: you can miss what you’ve never had. And usually the lack of needed emotional support and food and clothing or shelter that we need is painfully obvious. But what about spiritual needs? When they are lacking, is the need as obvious?
I don’t think so. People often set financial or life goals for themselves and reach them, thinking that when they have arrived at a particular goal, they’ll be happy, only to find out that they are just as needy as ever. Society tends to view those who have lots of material wealth as not needing anything, despite the personal statements of the rich and famous, that having money doesn’t make one happy, doesn’t bring peace of mind or joy. Those who are in need may be amazed at this, but it is true. There are needs that gnaw at us mentally, emotionally and spiritually but they cannot be met with material possessions . The most important of these needs is the need for a Savior.
Every person is born with a sin nature and that capacity for sin separates us from God Almighty. We have an empty space in our souls that cannot be filled with anything except Holy Spirit. Many people have told their own stories about trying to fill that empty spot with material possessions and money, with experiences, with substances or with relationships. But that empty spot stays empty, whatever is shoved into it may seem to satisfy for the moment, but then it drains out and the gnawing emptiness cannot be denied.
But it can be filled. It is a simple matter of believing on the name of Jesus. We are assured that we will find Him when we seek for Him with our whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Although we are spiritually dead when we are living in our sin, He can make us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). it is by His grace we can be saved and the awful empty feeling and know the joy of having Holy Spirit living in us (1 Corinthians 3:16).
We can miss what we’ve never had, especially when we are missing a relationship with our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. But we don’t have to be without Him. He came to earth to die for us and He is waiting for us to turn to Him. He will not turn us away.
. . . that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist. . . Acts 17:27-28
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