The photo speaks a lot to me about the Psalm 42 as I read through it. It is obviously winter. The lush leaves of the trees are gone. They provided food and some water for that deer in the safety and undercover of the woods. But now, that, too has disappeared. It looks like the deer is trying to find some nourishment from what grass remains. It could be a very cold day. Maybe the stream or sources of water are frozen and no longer flowing or accessible. And so, maybe the deer, like we in a dry winter season, long/pant for a season where the fullness and richness of God and His Living water flows into and then out of us to others. And maybe this thirst causes us to seek Him more, follow Him closer and reach a little further.
The footnotes for Psalm 42: 1,2 says: (NIV) “As the life of a deer depends upon water, so our lives depend upon God. Those who seek him and long to understand him find never-ending life. Feeling separated from God, this psalmist wouldn’t rest until he restored his relationship with God because he knew that his very life depended on it. Do do you thirst for God?”
Debi and Tammy acknowledged our need and desire for God. I surely concur….This photo was taken very near to one of our county’s public schools. The sighting of this deer closely by those students filing in and out of school gave me the recognition just how we long for the closeness of God. A pause to pray for the children in our schools as recently all to often danger lurks around our Nation’s. Children. 🙏🏻
A friend, a school teacher, shared her interesting story with me today.
“One day when I was at Starbucks I noticed a very simple and yet very meaningful note taped on a guy’s computer cover: the note read:
Good Morning! This is God! I will be handling all of your problems today. I will not need your help. So relax and have a great day!
This note sounded like a mom talking to her kindergarten child- and yet it was attached on the computer of a 30+ year guy who was around 6’3”. I asked him permission to copy the note and he was taken by my interest and we both shared coffee and had a chat about how a simple message can bring such comforting words …. I told him it sounded like a note a mom would give her child, and he said, “ My mom actually gave it to me years ago when I was feeling down and I refer to it everyday.” So grateful to have met Him and his kindness in sharing a message I also refer to everyday. 🙏🏼“
Psalm 42:1 commentary… “The psalmist bemoans all the troubles he has endured in his exile and prays for salvation.[5] He laments his remoteness from the temple of God and expresses his desire for the renewal of the divine presence.[6] Matthew Henry speculates that David might have composed this psalm when he was prevented from returning to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, either due to persecution by Saul or because of Absalom’s revolt.”
I’ve been thinking what does it really mean to long for God?
That is a great story from the school teacher and how it relates to our deep need for and longing for God. Thanks for sharing it.
Sara, you asked, “I’ve been thinking what does it really mean to long for God?”
I thought I would look up some synonyms for “to long for” to help answer this question. These are a few that stood out to me and correlating scriptures and thoughts on.
Set one’s heart on: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.“ I would say longing for involves engaging our mind in order to focus on the object of our desire…God and His will, plan and purpose.
Hunger for: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matt 5:6. I think hunger drives us to seek food. Obtaining food means action, whether shopping at the grocery store or planting, harvesting and freezing or canning. So longing for has to be accompanied by action.
Value: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45, 46
If longing means to value, then we will spend money and resources in our pursuit of God.
Dig: “he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” Luke 6:48 I have dug a lot of holes for plants and trees over the years. And, depending on the soil conditions, some of those have taken a lot of strenuous work because there are obstacles in the way like roots and rocks. So, longing for is not just a passive wish, it involves work.
Appreciate: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:18 I think this verse tells us that our longing for and seeking after God has got to involve expressions of gratitude and appreciation.
thedailylily.com 
The photo speaks a lot to me about the Psalm 42 as I read through it. It is obviously winter. The lush leaves of the trees are gone. They provided food and some water for that deer in the safety and undercover of the woods. But now, that, too has disappeared. It looks like the deer is trying to find some nourishment from what grass remains. It could be a very cold day. Maybe the stream or sources of water are frozen and no longer flowing or accessible. And so, maybe the deer, like we in a dry winter season, long/pant for a season where the fullness and richness of God and His Living water flows into and then out of us to others. And maybe this thirst causes us to seek Him more, follow Him closer and reach a little further.
The footnotes for Psalm 42: 1,2 says: (NIV) “As the life of a deer depends upon water, so our lives depend upon God. Those who seek him and long to understand him find never-ending life. Feeling separated from God, this psalmist wouldn’t rest until he restored his relationship with God because he knew that his very life depended on it. Do do you thirst for God?”
Debi and Tammy acknowledged our need and desire for God. I surely concur….This photo was taken very near to one of our county’s public schools. The sighting of this deer closely by those students filing in and out of school gave me the recognition just how we long for the closeness of God. A pause to pray for the children in our schools as recently all to often danger lurks around our Nation’s. Children. 🙏🏻
A friend, a school teacher, shared her interesting story with me today.
“One day when I was at Starbucks I noticed a very simple and yet very meaningful note taped on a guy’s computer cover: the note read:
Good Morning! This is God! I will be handling all of your problems today. I will not need your help. So relax and have a great day!
This note sounded like a mom talking to her kindergarten child- and yet it was attached on the computer of a 30+ year guy who was around 6’3”. I asked him permission to copy the note and he was taken by my interest and we both shared coffee and had a chat about how a simple message can bring such comforting words …. I told him it sounded like a note a mom would give her child, and he said, “ My mom actually gave it to me years ago when I was feeling down and I refer to it everyday.” So grateful to have met Him and his kindness in sharing a message I also refer to everyday. 🙏🏼“
Psalm 42:1 commentary… “The psalmist bemoans all the troubles he has endured in his exile and prays for salvation.[5] He laments his remoteness from the temple of God and expresses his desire for the renewal of the divine presence.[6] Matthew Henry speculates that David might have composed this psalm when he was prevented from returning to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, either due to persecution by Saul or because of Absalom’s revolt.”
I’ve been thinking what does it really mean to long for God?
That is a great story from the school teacher and how it relates to our deep need for and longing for God. Thanks for sharing it.
Sara, you asked, “I’ve been thinking what does it really mean to long for God?”
I thought I would look up some synonyms for “to long for” to help answer this question. These are a few that stood out to me and correlating scriptures and thoughts on.
Set one’s heart on: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.“ I would say longing for involves engaging our mind in order to focus on the object of our desire…God and His will, plan and purpose.
Hunger for: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matt 5:6. I think hunger drives us to seek food. Obtaining food means action, whether shopping at the grocery store or planting, harvesting and freezing or canning. So longing for has to be accompanied by action.
Value: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45, 46
If longing means to value, then we will spend money and resources in our pursuit of God.
Dig: “he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” Luke 6:48 I have dug a lot of holes for plants and trees over the years. And, depending on the soil conditions, some of those have taken a lot of strenuous work because there are obstacles in the way like roots and rocks. So, longing for is not just a passive wish, it involves work.
Appreciate: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:18 I think this verse tells us that our longing for and seeking after God has got to involve expressions of gratitude and appreciation.