(Letter to a Perplexed Believer.)
THANK God for your longings after Christ. Only don’t get occupied with the “living” and the “leaning,” but rather with the love that faith leans upon― “the love of Christ which passeth knowledge”!
The Holy Ghost is the One that ministers of His love to us, and therefore we have to take diligent heed that nothing in us, or in our ways, shall be allowed to grieve Him. It is negligence as to this which hinders the apprehension and enjoyment of divine love in our souls.
I quite agree with you, and believe the verse you quote. The crushing of an idol that only leaves a bitter smarting, or an aching void, is of little value. Yet, surrender is surrender, notwithstanding. Only you must see that if surrender is to be worth anything it must be to make room for that which you value more than the thing surrendered.
Get with HIM, dear friend. Reach Him in the place where He now is. Tell out the tale of your coldness in His ear. Make known all your exercises at His feet.
Keep your mouth, and heart, and ears open to Him, and all that you wish for will surely flow in. The empty shell, dropped into the ocean, has no need to cry, Fill me.