In Times of Fatigue
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 42:2
The psalmist had reached the end of his tether. His emotional reservoirs of strength, the desires to push on in the face of daunting discouragements had dissipated. He was at his low ebb, perhaps his lowest.
We always live along the shore of life, between the sandy shores of earthly realities and the ocean depth of the mystery of God. And sometimes it feels that the tide has receded, and, as is true in nature, when the ocean recedes then we can see the scattered refuse of life along the shore. In our low moments challenges seem overwhelming, our past failures appear unforgiven, and our weaknesses magnified. We long for the high tide of the grace of God to flood back into our souls, covering over these sights.
“Where can I go and meet with God?” asked the sons of Korah. There is some benefit in remembering the high moments of our spiritual life, but there is also a hidden danger that we may mis-remember, as well. If, in our search for God, we travel only into our memories, we will perhaps only meet with our sentiments. If we travel into a fantasy world we will only meet with imaginings. If we divert our attention and go on vacation we will meet with whatever amusements or sights that await us there. To meet with God we must travel to His promises.
Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), the first American missionary to Asia, languished physically and emotionally in a Burmese prison. Taunted by his guards that his prospects were grim, he replied that they were as “bright as the promises of God.”
Faith embraced in fatigue is still genuine faith, perhaps even more so for it has no strength to stand on its own emotion or determination. The psalmist came to the point of merely being able to say, “I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11). In our weakness is God’s strength made perfect.
The high tides of God’s grace will return to cover over and cleanse away concerns and failures and weaknesses. He is God and we are not. We should expect to often feel our deep soul’s need of Him. And He is always there.
Prayer:
Lord, enrich our faith in You and in Your promises. Amen.