Psalm 42

       My soul thirsts for God! In this psalm, the psalmist is speaking of thirsting for God. Then the psalmist gives us the context. He isn’t so blessed and so happy with life, that he has been too busy to make time for God and that is why he thirsts. No, it isn’t that life is so good that he is missing God. His food night and day are tears. Others looking in see how awful his life is and the only thing they can ask is where is your God. His life is so miserable, so terrible, as he cries day and night, and it seems like God has forsaken him altogether, that this distance from and lack of God is driving his thirst. Life has hit rock bottom and he knows what is missing is his relationship with God.
      Now the part that really got me as I read this psalm again, was verse 4. I have read this psalm many times, and normally my mind goes to deer hunting right away. However, this time as I focused on this content of why his soul thirsts, verse 4 stuck out. I want you to think about one of those times in your life, where you truly thought you were at rock bottom, tears were your food, and it seemed like God was nowhere to be found. Or even if you knew God was there with you, you felt like you had no real connection to Him. Ok, now in that moment, did you reminisce on past times when your faith seemed so much stronger, when your relationship with God seemed so much more vibrant? As you are wallowing in sadness, loneliness, and despair, your mind wandered back to a childhood memory of a full church on Christmas Eve with everyone singing those favorite Christmas hymns so loud you had chills. Or you remembered your favorite Easer when the lilies seemed extra white somehow, the alleluias rang louder, and the joy of thinking about Christ rising from the dead was overwhelming. Or maybe you remembered just an average Sunday morning service where the people singing, the sermon hitting a cord with you, and the overall worship just left such a memorable impression you can’t forget it. Looking back at those joyous, ecstatic, heartwarming memories of your faith life then, can make you ask yourself the same thing the psalmist asks in verse 5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?”
       In the moment of your sadness, your loneliness, and your despair, those memories of unforgettable worship services of the past can make you question if you really believe any more. The stark contrast between these two moments in your life can cause you to doubt your faith is even still alive within you. However, remembering those worship services can also lift your spirit. It can remind you that you do believe and you do have a faith that has burned in your soul before, so why are you so doom and gloom now soul? It can put things in perspective for you, and as you remember how strong your faith was back then, can strengthen your faith to not doubt, but trust. You can end up telling yourself in full confidence, “Hope in God.” Hey, that’s what the psalmist does. He is in utter distraught, he remembers the times he used to praise the Lord in full joy, and he realizes, why am I so down and blue. I wasn’t praising an idol, I wasn’t praising a worthless item, I was pouring out my soul to the God of my salvation. And even though life is in a rough place right now, I don’t need to doubt. God hasn’t given up on me. He isn’t far from me. Stop doubting, stop pouting, and hope in God. For I will again praise God because he will carry me through this rough patch. Even if my earthly life were to end because of this hardship, I will praise Him again because He is my salvation. I am saved in Him, He is my God, and I will hope in Him as I know I will praise Him always.
      So, when you find yourself in those tough times, and you remember the glorious past of your rich and thriving faith life, don’t let it cause you to doubt. Instead, let it remind you to hope in God. Let it be your reminder that you will praise God again because no matter what happens He is your salvation. When your soul thirsts, and you remember how you used to pour your soul out to Him, let your reviving drink that replenishes your soul be your hope and trust in God. For He is your salvation. His Son’s death and resurrection is your salvation. Praise be to Him. Amen.