No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

When we see pain, we yearn. When we see hunger, we question why. Senseless deaths. Endless tears, needless loss. Where do they come from? Where will they lead?

We try to quiet this terrible tiny voice [and] we busy ourselves with the task of staying busy.

Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy, then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth.

Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get him a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and martini?

Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on the beach simply because he was not made for the beach.

And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for earth. Oh, you will have . . . moments of joy. You will catch a glimpse of light. . . But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.

"No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

What a breathtaking verse! Do you see what it says? Heaven is beyond our imagination. We cannot envision it. At our most creative moment, at our deepest thought, at our highest level, we still cannot fathom eternity.

Try this. Imagine a perfect world. Whatever that means to you, imagine it. Does that mean peace? Then envision absolute tranquillity. Does a perfect world imply joy? Then create your highest happiness. Will a perfect world have love? If so, ponder a place where love has no bounds. Whatever heaven means to you, imagine it. Get if firmly fixed in your mind. Delight in it. Dream about it. Long for it.

And then smile as the Father reminds you, "No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

Anything you imagined is inadequate. Anything anyone imagines is inadequate. No one has come close. No one. Think about all the songs about heaven. All the artists' portrayals. All the lessons preached, poems written, and chapters drafted.

When it comes to heaven, we are all happy failures. It's beyond us.

. . . until then, be realistic. Lower your expectations of earth. This is not heaven, so don't expect it to be. There will never be a newscast without bad news. There will never be a church without gossip or competition. [Life on this earth will never] give you the all of the joy your heart craves. Only God can.

And God will.

by Max Lucado - "When God Whispers Your Name"