Wednesday, June 12, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Psalm 63

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips

when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;

they shall be given over to the power of the sword, they shall be prey for jackals.

But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. (NRSV)

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Reflection

The Bible frequently portrays the wilderness as a place of profound encounters. Think about it. It is in the wilderness that Moses communes with God through a burning bush. The Israelites wander the wilderness for forty years after fleeing Egypt. Elijah finds refuge in the wilderness, where he encounters God in a “still, small voice.” Even Jesus, following his baptism, ventures into the wilderness for forty days of temptation and testing.

Biblical wilderness is a desperate, wanting place. The sun beats down mercilessly. The parched earth cracks beneath your feet. Every breath feels heavy. Your mouth is dry. The wilderness is filled with immense challenges. It’s in this very place that the psalmist finds himself yearning for God with a thirst that surpasses even the need for water.

We all know the dry, wilderness seasons of our lives. We know times of loneliness and doubt; moments of feeling lost and unseen. Like the psalmist, we find ourselves longing for the comfort and security of familiar ground. In our desperation, we wonder, “Is God even here?”

But let’s be clear: God does not abandon us. Ever.

Even amid his thirst, the psalmist recalls God’s faithfulness. He remembers his past encounters with God’s “steadfast love,” and it fuels his praise. Even in the wilderness, the psalmist remembers that we are not left alone. Perhaps then, the wilderness is not just a place of hardship but where we might find even deeper connection with God. Just as the desert can bloom with unexpected beauty, so too can the wilderness seasons of our lives lead to a renewed understanding of God’s faithfulness.

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Prayer
O God, my soul thirsts for you, like the parched land craves rain. In times of dryness and doubt, let my heart yearn for you more than anything else. Help me to remember your unfailing love and find comfort in your abiding presence, which never leaves me. Amen.

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Written by Shawn Fiedler, Major Gift Officer

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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