“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 42 (KJV)
On the front page of Sunday’s Anniston Star the headlines read “Exceptional Drought” “The region appears to be headed for its second driest year in more than a century. A little rain must fall.” The article goes on to say that a drought can alter the landscape of a lake or river town. I thought of how this year has changed the way we do things in our everyday tasks. Some communities are no longer allowed to water their lawns or flowers. They are not able to wash their cars. This has changed the way we look at our water supply.
As I read the article, I thought about the way I look at my spiritual life. Is it also in a drought, crying out for water in a barren and thirsty land? When we do get a small shower I notice that the grass soaks it up and the trees seem to reach for the supply that gives it life. They begin to show new growth and the grass turns green and the tree leaves look refreshed.
Then I pause and look at my life. Have I been in the barren and thirsty land that the psalmist talks about? Does my soul thirst for God? Does it thirst for the living water that will refresh me? Does my thirst cause me reach for Him . . . to grow in Him . . . to lean on Him . . . to trust Him . . . to have faith in Him?
As I look at the trees in the yard and the mountains I notice that some of the trees are dying and may not survive the drought. Then I think about my life. Will it survive the drought I am facing? Am I going to the source so I can find the refreshing, living water? Am I trying to revive the thirsty and barren land of my life?
In John chapter 4, the woman at the well was searching for a fresh supply when she said “Sir, give me this water, that I may thirst not, neither come here to draw.” I want that source of water so that I will never thirst again. I want that place in Christ where I can always enjoy an abundant supply of the refreshing water. Even in the worst drought of my life, like the deer that pants after the water brooks, I can search after God. I want to be a survivor of the drought. How about you?
Father, I thank you, for the times of drought in my life that have caused me to thirst after you and find the water supply that never runs dry even in the worst of spiritual droughts. You have promised that I will find you when I search for you with all my heart. Give us the desire to both search for and find you. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his living water and seek its source,
Bobbie Smith (Mrs.)