Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God….
Panting and thirsting indicate lack, but if there is one thing I’m learning, it is that if I lack God’s presence and comfort, it is because I am not being mindful of them, not because He has withdrawn them from me. The idea reminds me of a song that talked about the fact that we are content with the crumbs from the feast that have hit the floor when in reality, we have a place set at the table. So why have we chosen to be content with crumbs? God wants more for us than that.
Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
I have experienced these seasons of the soul firsthand. We all have. But I can’t help but think, again, that it is a choice, even if it doesn’t feel like it. We can choose to see God’s presence, comfort, and provision or we can choose to feel the lack. We can choose our seat at the feast or we can choose to content ourselves with crumbs. We. Can. Choose.
Psalm 42:8 By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is within me—a prayer to God of my life.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your presence, comfort, and provision, for the ability to choose to trust Your steadfast presence, even when we can’t feel it. Help me, always, to choose You, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Have a blessed day.