Psalm 42:1-1 says, “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.”

What is the thirstiest you have ever been? For me, it was a late summer day when the temperature was quite hot. I had been walking up and down hills looking for ginseng, and had not taken much, if any, water with me. I was parched long before I ever got back to my car, where I was able to finally take a much-needed long drink of cold water. You can imagine how satisfying and refreshing that was!

The picture that the psalm writer paints for us is one of a deer that was extremely thirsty. Perhaps it had been running for a long time, trying to avoid a hunter or predator of some kind. Or maybe this thirst was the result of a drought and had been a long time coming.

Sometimes our spiritual thirst comes upon us suddenly. A family emergency, a crisis at work, an accident, an illness or some unexpected moral dilemma comes along and leaves us thirsty, panting for God.

At other times our spiritual thirst slowly develops over a period of time. A bad week turns into a bad season. Bible study seems dry, as if we can’t hear the words of God. Our worship might feel as if it were empty, and our prayers don’t seem to make it past the ceiling. These long spiritual dry spells can leave us thirsty, panting for God.

Continuing in chapter 42, we see how the psalmist deals with his thirst. First, he remembers the times he went to worship in the house of God “…with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.” (v.4). Thinking back on a time of worship that you experienced with others can help you remember what it was like to feel the close presence of God.

Then he gives himself a pep talk. V.5 says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Sometimes you need to look at the mirror and remind yourself of what you already know—you must keep on praising God and hoping in him, even in times of spiritual drought.

This is followed by another reminder, this time about the constant attention God gives to his people. “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.” (v.8). Jesus promises to be with us always, to the very end of the age (Matt.28:20). This promise holds true, even in times of spiritual drought.

The world promises to satisfy our thirst, but only God can give us the true spiritual refreshment that we need. Rev.22:17 says, “…Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”