Adapted from William Easton’s original God Is Satisfied, Are You? Gospel Tract circa 1900

Many spiritually anxious people generally start at the wrong end. They start with themselves instead of starting with God. They focus on their actions, feelings, satisfaction, and level of peace. Everything revolves around themselves in one way or another. And sometimes it takes a very long time before they learn to turn from themselves to look at God’s side.

Because the truth is this: you will never find real peace in your conscience or real joy in your heart until you begin with God. We meet people like this all the time.

We ask them, “Are you saved?”

They reply, “I hope so.”

“But are you sure?”

“Well, not really. I want to be. I’m praying. I’m trying. I’m reading. I’m searching. But I can’t say I’m sure. I’m not certain. I don’t feel satisfied.”

There are so many people stuck there — praying, seeking, and hoping to finally feel satisfied! But the whole thing is still centred on themselves. They are putting the cart before the horse and are surprised because they cannot get it to move. Of course not! The Gospel doesn’t start with you. It begins with God. Look at this well-known Bible verse and see where it starts:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

It begins with God.

God loved.

God gave.

We believe.

We have eternal life.

Start with God! Look at what He has done. See how His claims have been met. See how He has been glorified. Look at how God has been satisfied. When you see that clearly, then you too can rest and be satisfied. Since God has been satisfied, can’t you be too?

A Real Story

I once met a young sailor who was exactly in this situation. He had been trying hard for about three years – seeking, praying, and trying to feel satisfied.

What changed everything for him? How did he finally get peace and happiness? How was he delivered from his uncertainty and restlessness and anxiety?

Over those three years, he had completely overlooked and missed one simple fact.

God is satisfied.

Think about that. Slow down and really consider it. Let your tired heart take it in.

GOD IS SATISFIED!

When he heard it, his face lit up.

“Oh, I never thought of that before — God is satisfied.”

Yes.

God was the One offended by your sins. You were the offender. Jesus came to fully satisfy God’s holy and righteous claims by dying for our sins, and He completed that work perfectly.

How do you know God was satisfied?

God proved His total satisfaction with Christ and His work on the Cross by raising Him from the dead. He brought Him out of the grave, proving that He was satisfied. And it was all for you! If God is satisfied with the work of His Son, why shouldn’t you be?

I see clearly where you are making your mistake. You are trying to be better and feel different. You are trying to feel more spiritual and to work yourself up to a certain “level” of happiness, so you can then feel satisfied with your own joy. Because you are always falling short of the standard you have set, you are dissatisfied and frustrated.

Let me give you an illustration.

Imagine someone runs up a $100 debt at a store but then can’t pay the debt himself. He knows he owes money. He feels stressed about it. He keeps saying, “If only I could get satisfied and have peace about this.” You would say to him at once, ‘My friend, you never can be satisfied until you have paid your debt, or someone has paid it for you. The store owner must receive payment and be fully satisfied first before the transaction is complete.

Now, imagine a very kind friend goes and pays the entire debt and brings the payment receipt back to the man. Would the man sit there staring at the receipt, saying: ‘I wish I could feel satisfied that this debt was all paid for.”?

Of course not!

The receipt in his hand proves it’s totally paid. The store owner himself issued the receipt that said: “Payment in full!” The store owner was obviously satisfied, and nothing more was required. The matter was settled.

Knowing the store owner was satisfied allowed the man to be at peace and satisfied.

This is exactly what the Gospel says: The Saviour who stood in our place at the cross was ‘delivered up because of our offences, and was raised for our justification.’ (Romans 4:25)

Jesus died for our sins.

He was raised (resurrected) because of our justification.

The Risen Christ is God’s receipt.

God is satisfied, and so am I.

Why shouldn’t you be, and why shouldn’t you give God thanks and praise?

The sailor saw it so clearly just then as he understood God was satisfied.

He was filled with

“joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:13) knowing God was satisfied.

His face shone with joy.

“I see it now,” the sailor said. God is satisfied. I can go home and thank Him for that.”

What About You?

You have read this far.

Will you get to the end and still be saying, “I just wish I could become satisfied”?

You will never be satisfied until you believe that God has already found perfect satisfaction in what Christ did for you at the cross.

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24)

On the cross, Jesus cried:

It is finished!” (John 19:30)

And He died.

But, thank God, He did not remain dead.

This Jesus God has raised up. (Acts 2:32)

He is now in Heaven at the right hand of God. (Acts 2:33)

And the Bible says:

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews. 10:12)

Why did Christ sit down?

Because the work is finished.

And for every believer, God declares:

Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)

Matchless Saviour! Your work is done. Once was sufficient for God, and once is sufficient for me. I can now meet God with joy, for You have answered every question and settled every claim, and have introduced me to that blessed God

He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Read it here: God’s Way of Salvation

The Heart of the Satisfied God

Jesus’ work was enough for God.

And if it was enough for God, is it enough for you?

God is not reluctantly saving lost ones. He welcomes weary, poor, dissatisfied and repentant sinners like a father welcoming home a returning prodigal son or daughter – with joyful kisses and a warm embrace, new clothes and a celebration. (Luke 15:11-24)

The story of the prodigal son reveals the satisfied heart of a satisfied God.

So stop trying to do anything.

Stop waiting to feel something.

Stop trying to earn peace.

Rest where God rests — in Christ.

God has been glorified by Him at the cross. His justice has been satisfied. His love has been displayed.

And now He can send a message of love to you and say,

“God is satisfied.” Now are you?

You may read and search the Bible, but you will never find a verse that tells you how to “get saved.” Rather, the Bible tells you how you can be saved:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)