As a Deer

Psalm 42:1-5 (NASB), the sons of Korah write,

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.

Have you ever felt deep despair like the psalmists in this passage? Are you disappointed with the difficult blows life has dealt you? Do you experience moments when you cry more than you can eat? Do you sit around reminiscing about happy days that are no more? It doesn’t matter about our status in life, trouble knocks on each of our doors at some point in our journey. Our souls long for God in times of hopelessness, because it is at these moments when we realize that we are unable to fix what’s broken and that only in His presence can we find help. Spend time with God today, surrender all of your burdens, pains, disappointments, bitterness and unforgiveness to Him. Then go stand in front of a mirror and declare to your soul, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.” -Suzanne Marcellus