I Long For You
Psalm 42:1-11; 43:1-53
Imagine trudging through the desert, depleted of water and food. Suddenly you see an oasis of palm trees encircling a pool of fresh, cold water. Your pace quickens. You finally reach the pool and lunge in, only to be welcomed by a bed of hot sand.
Most thirst is not what a genuinely thirsty person experiences. Their mouth is parched and their lips are cracked. Anxiety levels are heightened. They know prolonged water deprivation leads to death.
God has created in humans a longing for spiritual nourishment similar to our physical need for fluids. Nothing short of a relationship with Him satisfies (Romans 1:21-25).
The psalmist illustrated this need by referencing a deer panting for water (v. 1), then confessed he was experiencing such a thirst. He longed to “appear before God (v. 2),” a technical term used for worshipping in the temple. Adversity intensified his thirst and prevented its satisfaction. He was discouraged, sad (v. 5), and felt forsaken by God (v. 9).
Life events can be devastating: divorce, job loss, financial ruin, natural disasters, faltering health. Then we get thirsty, discouraged or even depressed. We look for something to fill the void, and discover that some things satisfy while others don’t.
The psalmist was confident God would rescue him from his enemies and provide a safe haven (43:1-2). Then he would go to the temple (v. 4).
Prayer, Bible study and relationships with other believers are acceptable ways to satisfy our longings. These and other spiritual disciplines soothe our craving to know more about Christ and help us enter a deeper relationship with Him.
The psalmist’s hope must be ours. Otherwise we long for things that destroy health and emotional well-being. Addictive substances. Unhealthy relationships. God controls the circumstances, but we control our response. Only He can lift our veils of despair, enabling us to see events through His lenses.
Meditating on former experiences with God also provides comfort. Keeping a journal of how God brought us through former difficult experiences encourages in the present and gives hope for the future.
And God never forgets us, even though we may feel He has. Opposition, adversity, discouragement, and roller-coaster emotions can intensify how we feel but don’t change the reality of God’s continual involvement in our life’s details.
As we quench our thirst for God, He continues to create a more intense longing so we grow in our bond with Him. Beware of looking in the wrong places to satisfy your thirst. Trusting God is the solution, no matter how hopeless situations may appear.
Wiles– Lessons in the BSL series for the spring quarter are being written by Martin Wiles, pastor of First Baptist Church, Harleyville.