Deer pants for water.

 As the Deer Pants for Water

A Reflection on Psalm 42:1-2

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. (Psalm 42:1-2)

As the deer pants for water—parched, desperate, dry,

So my soul longs for You, O God, beneath this empty sky.

Not a casual wish, not a passing, fleeting thought,

But a deep, consuming hunger that no other thing has bought.

The deer does not pant for comfort, for applause, for silver streams,

But for the living water that alone can quench its dreams.

So my soul does not seek blessing, nor the gifts You give away—

I seek Your face, Your presence, Lord; I seek You, come what may.

When I am dry and weary, when the world has left me spent,

You are the well that never fails, the spring that heaven sent.

My tears have been my bread, my fears have been my night,

But my soul still thirsts for You, O God—the living, giving Light.

So I will keep on seeking, though the journey seems so long.

I will pant for You, I will call to You, I will sing my desperate song.

For You alone can satisfy the longing in my chest.

As the deer pants for water, Lord, I come to You for rest.

Amen.