Longing For The Lord

As the deer longs for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I go and stand before him? . . .

Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and my God! . . .

Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing his songs,

praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 42:1-2, 5-8

When have you felt like God was far away? For the psalmist, being surrounded by his taunting enemies made him feel distant from God. The psalmist’s enemies expressed his true thoughts in verse 3: “Where is this God of yours?” But their taunts only made him yearn for God even more, like a thirsty person awaiting a refreshing drink of water. So he freely admitted to God that he was discouraged. But he didn’t let his discouragement be the final word. Instead, he began counting the ways God had poured out his unfailing love on him. In the end, he praised the Lord, who was graciously sustaining his life.

Does God seem far away? Express your longing to him. Then, start recounting the ways God has provided for you.

• Dear Lord, I am discouraged, yet I put my hope in you . . .