“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me- a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:1-11 NIV
What Should I do When I Feel Spiritually Empty or Dry?
- I need to recognize and admit how I feel (Vs.1-2)
- Am I in or have I experienced a season spiritual dryness?
- I need to find the source of my emptiness
Common Causes of Spiritual Emptiness:
- Isolation (Vs.4) “I used to go with the multitude…”
- Disillusion (Vs.10) “Where is your God?”
- Depression (Vs.3) “My tears have been my food day & night”
- Lack of confession (Psalm 41:4) “O Lord have mercy on me…I have sinned.”
- I need to know the remedies for my spiritual emptiness
- Pour out your heart to God (Vs. 4)
- Analyze your hopes (Vs. 5)
- Preach the Good News to yourself (Vs. 11)
- Read this Psalm as if Jesus were saying it