Finding the One Your Soul Loves
Written by Sharon Wooden
“I will get up and go about the city, into the streets and into the squares. I must seek the one my soul loves. I looked for him, but did not find him. Hardly had I passed beyond them when I found the one my soul loves. I held him and I would not let him go…” Song of Solomon 3:2, 4 TLV
The Shulamite woman in Song of Solomon paints a vivid picture of longing and searching. Her beloved had called her to come away with him, yet she hesitated, distracted by other things. When she finally realized what she had missed, her heart ached with a longing that could not be satisfied by anything else. She rose in the night, searching the city streets and squares for the one her soul loved. She was relentless - her search only ending when she found him. And when she did, she clung to him, refusing to let go.
How often do we find ourselves in the same position? The call of Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom, echoes in our hearts, inviting us to come away and experience the fullness of His love. Yet we, like the Shulammite, can be distracted by the temporary pleasures or pursuits of life. We settle for substitutes, thinking they will fill the void, only to realize they leave us empty.
This is the essence of U2s song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” It resonates with the universal human experience of searching for something to satisfy the deepest longings of our souls. We climb mountains, scale walls, and chase dreams, only to discover that none of these pursuits truly fulfill us. Why? Because we’re often looking in the wrong places.
The Shulamite woman’s journey teaches us that the one we truly need - the one our souls long for - is Jesus. When she realized this truth, her search became focused and determined. She refused to give up until she found him. Similarly, when we recognize that no one and nothing compares to Jesus, our hearts cry out for Him alone. The emptiness we feel is not a curse - it’s a holy dissatisfaction meant to lead us back to Him.
Perhaps you’ve been searching, and nothing has truly satisfied you. You may feel like you’re wandering through the “streets and squares”, chasing fulfillment in relationships, careers, or material possessions. But the truth is, your soul is longing for the love of Jesus. He is the only one who can fill the void.
When you finally find Him - when you truly encounter His love, grace, and presence - it’s a Eureka moment. Like the Shulamite woman, you’ll say, “I have found the one my soul loves!” And in that moment, you will hold onto Him and never let go, because you’ll realize there is no one like Him.
If you’re still searching, perhaps it’s time to turn your heart fully toward Jesus. Lay aside the distractions and the things that have taken your attention, and seek Him with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jesus is the one you need more than the one you want. When you surrender your search to Him, you will find the fulfillment your heart has been longing for. And when you find Him, you’ll never want to let Him go.
Prayer: Lord, I confess that I’ve often searched for fulfillment in the wrong places. My soul longs for You, the only one who can truly satisfy. Help me to seek You with all my heart and not give up until I find You. Thank You for Your relentless love that calls me back to You again and again. Today, I declare that You are the one my soul loves. I surrender my search to You and cling to Your love, knowing there is no one like You. Amen.
