There is a holy phenomenon that is spiritual dissatisfaction, and it can manifest itself in the same feelings as described above. It happens as a natural outflow of humans being created in the image of God as learned in the first chapters of Genesis. Because of our origination, we are, by our very nature, spiritual beings. One doesn't become a spiritual being when he enters into a personal relationship with God - he is born that way. And whether he ever has a personal relationship with God or not, he is still a spiritual being. That means every person has a soul, which will never die but will end this earthly life only to enter eternal life.
Thus, every person has a holy dissatisfaction that can only be satisfied by God. It comes in two stages: a longing to know God, and a longing to know God better and better. See, for the unbeliever, there is a deep desire in his heart to know the God who created him, to enter into a personal relationship with Him. Obviously, he doesn't always recognize who or what this deep desire is for. Until that recognition comes, he will try to fill that longing with other things - some good and some not-so-good. Family, work, being a good person, giving back to the community, etc., are all good, but at the end of the day, something is still missing. Too many times, destructive behaviors and choices are made thinking that dark hole will be filled only to realize the uneasiness is still there along with the consequences, some of which may last for a lifetime. I have heard many stories of people who tried to settle the uneasiness in their lives with many different things that didn't work. But once they entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they finally experienced a peace that not words could not explain (Philippians 4:7). Their lives didn't suddenly become perfect, and they still had to deal with life's issues and consequences of their past choices, but the void was gone, and they had access to the God who will supply all their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
Once a person has a personal relationship with Jesus, the holy dissatisfaction moves to the second stage. The need to know God morphs into a need to know Him on a deeper level - His character, His likes and dislikes, His plan and purpose for the individual. It is much like any budding relationship. The more one knows a person, the more one wants to know and the more time one wants to spend with that person. Going back to the beginning in Genesis, God created man for companionship. He created him in His own image so they could enter into a relationship. Therefore, the desire for that spiritual relationship is inherent. Paul often wrote about his desire to know God on a deeper level, to become more like Him. The desire was/is so strong, that it was/is a NEED. Paul writes about that need comparing it to an athlete running a long-distance race in Philippians 3. Some scholars think he is referring to an athlete competing in a chariot race. In the ancient Olympics, the chariot race was one of the most anticipated events. However, the chariot was not what we typically picture. It was a wooden platform balancing on two wheels with nothing to hold on to or brace against. The athlete had to balance himself while pushing the horses forward. It was a tremendously strenuous feat taking every muscle and nerve fiber to stay balanced and in his lane. That's the picture when he uses the term "press on" and says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) The prize he's referring to is knowing Jesus on a deeper, more intimate level - to become more like Him. Paul was never satisfied with His relationship with Jesus. He always wanted/needed more.
If that was true for Paul, think about the average believer! That is what a holy dissatisfaction is about and why a holy dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual growth. If you are feeling stagnant or frustrated or even disconnected, ask yourself about your spiritual condition. Usually, that is the root of all misery. I did not say all problems! Problems are a part of this life. How we deal and feel about our situations is contingent on where we are in our relationship with Jesus. If we are where we need to be with Him, then that unexplainable peace envelopes us. If not, then we are at the mercy of anger, sadness, frustration, bitterness, depression, and the list goes on...
We should never let ourselves get "satisfied" in our relationship with Him. When satisfied, we stop pressing onward; we stop growing. Instead, we should cry out to experience holy dissatisfaction - just as David did in Psalm 42:1-2. "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, for the living God..."
