Are you hungry? Over the last couple of months, I have been impressed by how impactful this simple question has directly impacted the plans of God on earth. The stories of Abraham, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Ruth, and more take significant pivots around the simple and most basic of needs we have—hunger. Joseph is restored to his family because they were hungry. Ruth met Boaz because they were hungry. In Matthew 4, as Jesus finds Himself at the end of His 40-day fast, the first temptation attacks His most basic need—was He hungry? Perhaps one of the most popular parables of Jesus, the prodigal son, the restoration of the younger brother was not brought about by repentance, acceptance of his immaturity, or missing his family. He returned to his father and was redeemed and restored because he was hungry (Have you ever seen pig slop?). 

As I have been pondering the significance of all of these stories, I can’t help but ask myself, am I still hungry? The disciples were poor recruits to start a revolution by almost every standard, except for one: they consistently displayed a constant need and desire for more. They were . . . always hungry. And the world turned upside down because of their passion for more. Many times in life, we have the opportunity to lose the hunger, the drive for more of the present reality of Jesus within our daily lives. As C.S. Lewis appropriately observed (my paraphrase), “Humans are often too easily satisfied.” There is ample opportunity to become satisfied, whether from success, failure, or the distractions of life. Yet, what happens when we foster a constant hunger for more, a desire for something or someone beyond what we currently know or have experienced? The story of the Bible flows in and out of those who are hungry, and if we emulate the posture of one who is always hungry, what could our world look like? It seems the plans of God flow oftentimes through the hungry. So are we hungry?

Consistently, one of the core values of working with PI partners is the level of hunger. Hunger and vision go hand in hand, and we are so honored to partner with many around the world who are hungry and not yet satisfied. In February alone, we launched five new schools on three continents because people are hungry! What a privilege to be a part of the hungry, not to be satisfied with where we are but to expect more because we know He is at work!