On The Days Your Soul Is Desperately Thirsty

As far as Mother Nature is concerned, this is my least favorite time of year. It's cold. It's dry. It's brown. Branches just snap off in the wind. There's no snow. The trees haven't even dropped all their leaves. And the ones they do have are brittle. 

I'll be honest and tell you that I've felt as brittle as those dry, crunchy leaves lately. There's nothing really wrong, I'm just tired and under a good bit of stress. But I can relate to my tree - sometimes the limbs just break off in the wind. There are moments when all I can hear is the rustle of the dry, brown leaves.

These are the days my soul is desperately thirsty. Just like a parched throat can only be satisfied with pure, clean water, my heart just wants peace and quiet time alone with my God. It's the only thing that's going to water what's been parched for so long.

It's amazing when you open your Bible and the writer of that page feels the exact same thing you're feeling in this moment.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psalm 63:1-8

Life feels like a wilderness, but I'm still seeking God early. My soul thirsts, my flesh longs for Him when there's no relief anywhere else. All I want is to see Him working, moving, showing His power and glory all through my days.

I have experienced the lovingkindness of the Lord - He has brought me through the most difficult times of my life, and all I can do is praise His holy name. I lift my hands to Him in thanksgiving for who He is and what's He's done for me.

God alone can satisfy what needs to be satisfied in the depths of my soul. He's done it before and He'll do it again, and I will praise Him just as I did before. When the nights are long and sleep doesn't come, I can look back at the times His presence has gotten me through, and that will help me rest and sleep in peace.

I can rejoice in the middle of the wilderness, no matter how dry it is, because I'm secure in the shadow of God's wings. As long as I live, my soul will follow hard after His presence. Wherever He is is where I want to be. That's how the dryness turns into rushing mighty waters and the rustling turns into a soft breeze.

Today might not be easy, it may feel overwhelming and brittle at times. But this is the time to follow after God as hard as we possibly can and rely on the promises satisfaction and lovingkindness. That's how we quench that thirst and find reasons to rejoice, regardless of the season.

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