There’s a dangerous illusion many of us fall for—one that I chased for years. It tells us that something out there will finally make us whole. Maybe it’s success. Maybe it’s sex. Maybe it’s alcohol, money, or attention. Whatever it is, the world promises it will satisfy.
But it never does.
I’ve been there. I tried to quiet the ache in my soul with alcohol. I looked for pleasure in places that only left me emptier than before. And for a long time, I thought I was just one breakthrough away from feeling fulfilled—one opportunity, one relationship, one achievement. But no matter what I reached for, it never lasted. Because nothing in this world can do what only Christ can.
That’s why I say today—with full conviction and clarity—Christ satisfies.
The Horizontal Search That Fails Us All
When Paul Tripp talks about “horizontal vs. vertical living,” he’s pointing to something we all feel but often can’t articulate. Horizontal living is when we search for meaning, identity, peace, and joy in the created things of this world. We look out across the landscape of our lives—at relationships, careers, bodies, bank accounts, or platforms—hoping something there will finally fix the ache inside.
But it doesn’t.
Even when the world gives you what you think you want, it comes with strings. Fame is fragile. Money never feels like enough. Sexual freedom leaves people spiritually bankrupt. Addiction numbs the pain but deepens the void.
That’s because we were never designed to be filled horizontally.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has “set eternity in the human heart.” That means nothing temporary—no matter how good it looks—can satisfy an eternal longing. And that longing is universal. Everyone’s chasing something. But only one path leads home.
My Story: What Left Me Empty
For me, it was alcohol. I turned to it for comfort, excitement, and escape. I thought it would lift me out of fear or fill the hole I couldn’t quite name. But it didn’t. It couldn’t. I found myself chasing a feeling that never lasted and digging a deeper pit with every step.
It wasn’t just the drinking—it was what I was trying to silence. Underneath the addiction was a search for approval, for control, and honestly, for peace. I was trying to be okay apart from God.
But I wasn’t. And no one is.
The turning point wasn’t a moment of strength—it was total surrender. I had to stop chasing false fulfillment and look up. I had to learn that Christ satisfies in a way no substance, person, or experience ever could.
What the World Offers (and Why It Never Delivers)
Let’s name some of the top lies the world tells us about satisfaction:
- “If you just find the right person, you’ll be whole.”
But people weren’t made to be our saviors. Even the best relationships can’t bear the weight of being someone’s ultimate source of happiness. - “If you just make enough money, you’ll feel secure.”
But money can’t buy peace. And the more you get, the more you fear losing it. - “If you just get noticed, go viral, build a platform—you’ll matter.”
But social media attention fades fast, and living for likes is a trap that never ends. - “If you just indulge your desires, you’ll finally feel free.”
But chasing pleasure without boundaries always leads to bondage.
These are the empty wells the world offers. We drink from them, but they never quench our thirst.
Jesus addressed this directly in John 4:13–14, when He told the woman at the well:
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.”
That’s what the world can’t offer—lasting fulfillment. But Christ can.
Why Christ Satisfies
Here’s what I’ve come to believe deep in my soul: Only the One who created us can fulfill us.
Christ satisfies because He:
- Reconciles us to God (Romans 5:1)
- Fills us with the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17)
- Gives us an identity that can’t be taken away (Galatians 2:20)
- Offers peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7)
- Loves us unconditionally—even at our worst (Romans 5:8)
Everything else comes with conditions. But Jesus meets us in our mess and changes us from the inside out. He’s not a temporary fix—He’s the source of life.
And here’s what’s wild: Even in suffering, He satisfies. Even in lack, He provides peace. Even when the world crashes around you, He holds you steady.
Living Vertically in a Horizontal World
We’re constantly bombarded with horizontal messages. The culture tells us to follow our hearts, chase our dreams, indulge every desire, and live “our truth.” But Jesus calls us higher. He says:
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
— Colossians 3:2
That’s vertical living.
Vertical living means we define success by God’s Word, not the world’s applause.
It means we measure fulfillment by spiritual fruit, not material gain.
It means we walk in obedience because we’ve been loved—not to earn that love.
It also means we can enjoy things in this world—relationships, careers, rest, even beauty—but they don’t define us. They’re gifts, not gods.
When Christ is your foundation, you’re no longer at the mercy of what’s around you. You’ve got an anchor that holds.
I even wrote about how the culture subtly trains us to worship self over God—and that distortion leaves us empty.
To the One Still Searching
If you’re reading this and still chasing that something you can’t quite name, I’ve been there. I know the ache. I know the false starts. I know what it feels like to be so close to giving up because nothing seems to work.
But I’m telling you as someone who’s walked that road: Christ satisfies.
You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t have to earn it. Just come to Him. Pour it all out. Ask Him to fill the emptiness you’ve tried to patch with everything else.
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Not temporary relief. Not surface-level comfort. Real rest. Lasting peace. Deep joy.
I found it in Him. And you can, too.
Final Word
The world’s promises are loud, but they’re empty. They never deliver what they advertise. I’ve learned that the hard way. But by God’s grace, I also learned the truth:
Christ satisfies—fully, eternally, and unconditionally.
You don’t have to chase anymore. You just have to come.
Arch Kennedy
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