“Why can’t I ever feel happy?” is a common question people ask themselves. It seems like no matter how much stuff we have or how busy our schedules, we always feel like we are still missing something. We are always just one gadget away from true happiness (perhaps the iWatch) or one exciting friend away from having a really good time on the weekend.
Sometimes this feeling of longing for something missing is referred to as thirst. We find that language in verse 1 & 2 of Psalm 42:
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.
When can I go and meet with God?
The problem is that all too often when we feel this thirst described here, we try to quench the feeling with tangible means. A new cell phone, new friends, new job, new trinket from the dollar section of Target… big or small, we’ve all tried to quench the thirst in our souls with items or changes that never satisfy the way we hope.
What we need to do is learn from the author of this psalm. There are some things in life that only God can satisfy – and the deep longing for contentment, protection, and acceptance are only found in Him. So join with me and let’s give up our dependence on cheap substitutes and let’s drink deeply of the satisfaction our souls will find by spending time with our Heavenly Father who loves, comforts, and protects us like none other.
Questions to Consider:
- Do I ever feel a thirst to spend time with God? If not, why not?
- What are the usual things I try to substitute for spending time with God? Surfing the web? Shopping? TV?
- Pray for Jesus to put a deep thirst in your soul for him. Drawing closer to Jesus can begin with a prayer that he be the one to draw you in. After all, he has the power which you might lack.
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