Zabenthung Dominic

There is something deeply stirring about that timeless line from Saint Augustine: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” It is not merely a poetic phrase from a faraway saint. It is the cry of every heart that has tasted the world but still longs for something more. It is the ache that lies behind every thrill, every success, and every fleeting joy. Perhaps the most beautiful truth in this saying is that it does not ask us to stop living or enjoying life. Instead, it gently invites us to live more deeply, to love more truly, and to seek what truly lasts.

Many people believe that to be holy, one must abandon everything that brings happiness. Some even fear that coming closer to God means turning away from music, laughter, friendships, adventures, and the vibrancy of youth. But that is not what Augustine teaches us. His words do not call us to renounce joy but to discover its true source.

Youth is a time when the heart is full of wonder, the eyes are wide open to beauty, and the soul craves meaning. There is energy, passion, and a strong desire to be loved and to love in return. This is not something to be silenced or hidden. It is a gift. But like all gifts, it finds its purpose only when it is placed in the hands of the Giver. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

Augustine himself knew this well. Before he found peace in God, he chased after many pleasures. He tasted the sweetness of fame, ambition, romantic love, and even intellectual pride. But each left him more hollow than before. He did not find joy in rejecting joy. He found joy in discovering a greater one. And that joy was in God, who never changes, never fades, and never grows tired of loving.

So then, must we give up our enjoyments to find happiness? No. But we must give them their right place. When pleasures rule our hearts, they become chains. But when they are held with freedom and gratitude, they become windows through which God smiles upon us.

There is no sin in a song that lifts your spirit. There is no guilt in a friendship that brings light to your days. There is no shame in laughter that springs from a pure heart. What God gently warns us against is not joy itself but the illusion that anything created can fully satisfy a heart made for the Creator.

Happiness is not found in giving up youth. It is found in giving it meaning.

To walk with God in your youth is not to walk away from joy. It is to walk toward it with clearer eyes. It is to dance with freedom, knowing who you are. It is to dream boldly, knowing that your dreams are held by hands stronger than your own. It is to fall in love not just with a moment but with eternity. “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

When you love God, your enjoyments do not fade.
They deepen.
A sunset becomes a song.
A hug becomes a prayer.
A cup of tea with a friend becomes a sacred pause.
Life does not lose color.
It gains soul.

God is not a thief of joy. He is the Giver of it. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

So enjoy your youth, laugh often, make music, travel, make friends and explore. But above all, let your heart remain anchored in the One who made you. Let your pleasures be rooted in purity. Let your desires be directed toward goodness. Let your freedom always return to the truth.

And when restlessness visits you in the night, do not be afraid. It is the gentle whisper of God, calling you home. For your soul will always ache until it touches the Heart that made it. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

You do not have to choose between joy and God.
You only have to let God be your joy.

And then, even in the noise of the world, your soul will rest.
Even in the chaos of youth, your heart will be still.
Even in the passing of time, you will taste something eternal.

That is the miracle of Augustine’s words.
They do not ask you to run away from the world.
They ask you to find the One who makes it beautiful.

Let your youth be bright, not empty.
Let your laughter be pure, not reckless.
Let your dreams fly, but always toward the Light.
For only then will your restless heart finally rest.

And oh, how sweet that rest will be.