The Thirst
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"
— Psalm 42:1–2, ESV
The passage above reminds me of the many times I have felt the same longing. There are seasons when I sense a distance from the Lord, and my soul thirsts deeply for Him. In those moments, we must do whatever is necessary to draw near to His presence. Yes, God’s presence is always with us—but when we desire the intimacy of His comfort, we must set aside intentional time to be alone with Him.
I recall a particular season when I felt such a strong yearning for God. Though I was faithfully attending church every Sunday and participating in Bible study, my soul still felt unsettled. One night, the Holy Spirit stirred me awake around two in the morning with an overwhelming desire to pray from the depths of my heart. Because I tend to pray loudly and didn’t want to disturb my family, I grabbed a blanket, my Bible, and a notebook, then slipped into the garage and sat inside my car. There, I poured out my soul to the Lord—and oh, how He met me in that place.
God is always waiting to meet with us. I believe the longing we feel is His Spirit drawing us closer. Scripture reminds us that it is God who stirs this hunger in our hearts (John 6). When we sense that thirst, it is an invitation—He has something for us, and we must respond. Remember, even Jesus prayed continually, retreating to spend time with the Father. If He, the Son of God, prioritized intimacy with the Father, how much more should we?
Jesus also understands the demands of our lives and schedules. When we choose to respond to His invitation, He makes space for us to meet with Him. But our time with God does not need to look like anyone else’s. Your prayer time may be thirty minutes, while another person may spend hours. What matters is the sacrifice of your heart. For me, that often means giving up sleep. Many mornings I whisper, “Lord, I am so tired, but I am here. Strengthen me. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.” And every time, God honors honesty and meets me with grace.
Key Takeaways
The thirst in your soul is not from you—it is an invitation from God.
His presence is always with us, but He calls us to go deeper.
Intimacy with Him will require sacrifice, but the reward is His closeness.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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