Have you ever been
so thirsty that you thought your mouth was just going to stick together from
the dryness and your throat was going to close up? Water is essential for life. The Psalmist of Psalm 42 recognizes that God’s
presence is essential for life. He
writes in the opening verses: “Just like
a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God.” Have you ever recognized that kind of longing
for God? I believe that kind of longing
comes when we are having a hard time feeling God’s presence in the midst of our
suffering. Like Job’s friends questioned
Job, we might hear others ask us “Where is your God now?”
The Psalmist then
does something very important. He
remembers other times that God showed up.
I believe we can each look back on our lives and see the broken places
where God showed up and took those broken pieces and knitted them into
something more beautiful than we could ever imagine. When we are in those times of brokenness, it
is important for us to remember. It is
also important for us to re-member.
One of the psalmist’s
memories is of God’s presence in the worshiping community. Verse 4 has him remembering his time in the
house of God, among a community of believers and he knows it is important to be
in the midst of a worshiping community, even if you don’t feel very much like worshiping. He reminds himself and us
that our hope is found in God. He recognizes
that this period of suffering and brokenness will pass and he will again be
giving thanks to God for God’s presence in the midst of the suffering. God is our Solid rock. Next time you are experiencing brokenness in
your life hold onto this. Like a deer
panting for water, seek out God for he is your source of water. The water of your baptism gives you
hope. Stay in your community of worshiping believers or if you don’t have one find one. Find a place where your soul can be nurtured
and nourished. In the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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