Finding Hope in the Spiritual Desert

Finding Hope in the Spiritual Desert
Bible Reading: Psa. 41-45
Today’s Devotional Psalm 42-43
“As the dear pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.”

The opening verse of Psalm 42 is the basis for a favorite chorus that we frequently sing in churches. It connects with our deep longing to have a personal relationship with God and rest in Him. However, when we look closely at the context, the Psalm is not just a song of the person’s desire to know God; it is a cry of one who is in a spiritual wasteland, and God seems elusive and absent. Like Psalm 8, this psalm is also a psalm of lament in which the person is experiencing adversity and God seems absent. The Psalmist paints a picture of one in a barren desert where there is an unquenchable thirst for water. As the sun beats down upon him, he longs for the satisfying water that will bring relief from the heat. Yet as he thirsts for God, God seems to be absent and indifferent to his plight. Instead of the satisfaction of God’s presence, he is left with the ridicule of others who torment him with the taunt that God has abandoned him (vs 3). He remembers a time when he would lead the procession into the worship of God, but now, instead of joy, he has only despair. In verse 5, he gives expression to the despair we often feel in times of adversity. Three times in this lament (note Psalm 42 and 43 should be read as one psalm rather than two), the Psalmist cries, “Why are you in despair, O my soul?” In the desert of adversity, the Psalmist longs for God’s presence and deliverance. Like Job, the Psalmist reminds us that it is not wrong to ask the questions and express our puzzlement that we cannot understand or see God in times of adversity. When we are going through adversity, it is part of our humanness to question “why?”  

However, just when it seems that his soul is being overwhelmed with despair, the flame of faith begins to burn brightly. What gives us hope in our difficulties is faith. In the inward conversation of his mind, his faith speaks to his despair and reminds the Psalmist of God’s past activities. God delivered him in the past and so will deliver him in the present and in the future. Faith gives us a vision of God when our circumstances seem to conceal God’s presence and activity in our lives. Even though God seems to have abandoned him, he still recognizes that his only hope is God Himself. Despite his present circumstances, he remains confident that God will pour out his loving kindness and that he will sing of his praise in the night.  

Where does this hope come from? In times when God seems to have abandoned him, how do we remain confidence in God’s activity? The answer lies in 43:3-4. It comes through the revelation of His word and the worship of God’s character. In times of despair, we can turn to God’s word and receive confidence in his promises. God’s word is true and certain.    They do more than just tell us of history; they give us perspective and guidance. They are like the light in the midst of the night. No matter how dark the night, it cannot stand against the appearance of life. The light of God is the fullness of his salvation and redemption (36:9; Isa. 58:8). When we turn to the scriptures, our souls find comfort and hope through the promises of God.    
When we are going through times of spiritual dryness and adversity, we find hope when we turn to God’s word and are reminded of the unchanging promises of God. When we cannot see God, his promises remind us of the unchanging promise of God. God will bring deliverance, and he does listen to our prayers. Therefore, instead of despair can experience exceeding joy (43:4). When our soul longs for God, we can find him in the promise of His Word.