The Presence: 21 Day Devotional: Day 11

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. When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 42:1-2  NIV

Psalm 42:3-11

Let’s be honest, we have all gone through deep trials where we feel alone; not a friend to count on, a shoulder to lean on or to share our deepest fears with.  We pray and cry out before God, but we still feel empty inside. It appears that nothing has changed. As I reflect on Psalm 42, the Psalmist cried out day and night and poured out his soul before God.  He felt downcast and disturbed; in deep lament, agony and oppressed by his enemies so much so, that he felt alone in the wilderness. Not only were his enemies saying, “Where is your God?”, but in his deep depression he asks the question: God, “Why have you forgotten me?”

In the deepest sorrow of our pain, if the questions haven’t changed, neither has the answers! The key to overcome depression and the biggest trials of life are found in Psalm 42. In spite of his feelings and present conditions, his thirsty soul for the Living God made him cry out with deep groans. He went through a season of not feeling the presence of God and now he was ready to place his hope in God.  To shout, to praise, to be joyful, and to give thanksgiving to the God that loves him and sings over him even in the moments of deep despair.