Week 2: Be Refreshed with Psalms

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (Psalm 42:1)

Where This Hits Home

Some days my soul feels bone-dry, like there is nothing left to give. I’ve woken up too tired to function, whispered prayers that sounded more like gasps, and wondered if God even noticed how thirsty I was. Illness often made me feel like I was fading into the background. In those moments, Psalm 42 gave me words for my ache. I long for God the way a deer longs for water. That very longing became a quiet form of faith.

The Word This Week

Psalm 42 is painfully honest. The writer feels forgotten, even overwhelmed, yet keeps crying out to God. This isn’t polished or picture-perfect faith. It is survival faith, clinging to the hope that God is near even when His presence feels out of reach.

Why It Matters

When I come up against walls of pain or loneliness, this Psalm reminds me that the act of longing itself is an expression of faith. It is okay to feel empty. What matters most is where I turn in that emptiness.

Let’s Talk About It

• Where do you feel spiritually or emotionally thirsty?

• How might longing itself be a form of faith?

• What practices help refresh your soul when you feel dry?

This Week’s Seed

God does not ask us to fake joy when our souls are thirsty. He promises to meet us right there, in the longing.