Have you ever had an itch that needed scratching? Ohhh, that feels soooo good. Sometimes the scratching is more of a pleasant sensation than it is relief from the itch relief. Some people, and animals scratch, scratch, scratch until they tear the skin and get infected.
Spiritually, people do the same. They afflict themselves with self gratification, rather than getting Divine deliverance from their irritation. Scratching is a surface response to a deeper need. Only Jesus can relieve your deepest misery and satisfy your deepest longings.
