32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Written by Margaret Cressionnie
“For you my flesh pines, and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless, and without water.” How often do I approach God with this intense yearning for Him? Thinking of this verse, I realized that it often resonates with me the most when I feel exhausted or find that self-sufficiency isn’t working for me anymore. But how would my life and prayer look different if my heart reflected the authentic fervor of this psalm?
In our hustle and bustle, do-it-yourself, “girl boss” society today, we see hyper-independence and achieving self-worth through work or accomplishments become a badge of honor. Oftentimes, we can pride ourselves on being self-sufficient, and it is often rewarded by bosses, parents, friends, or society as a whole. Yet it is this self-sufficiency that often leads us to struggle. As a mental health counselor, many clients come into my office as a last-ditch effort after they’ve tried everything possible on their own to help their situation. It takes humility and vulnerability to admit our weaknesses, limitations, and constant need for God. In the moments I see clients admit their need for help, I see strength and relief. In the times I am honest with myself about my limitations and ask God again and again for His grace to fill the cracks and sustain me, He does not fail to provide, and I feel more authentically myself and more alive than when I try to go at it alone. But even beyond simply these times of trouble, the truth is that our longing and need for God is embedded in our very beings.
When I was in college, no praise and worship night was complete without singing “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher. It got to the point where I would sing this song half-heartedly because I heard it so often, but how profound and necessary that truth is: “Lord, I need you…every hour, I need you.” How would life look differently if we lived this truth as the cry of our hearts?
Do you recognize the ways and the extent that your soul is thirsting for God? Turn to Christ as the source of life and open your heart to the abundance He desires to bestow.
Margaret Cressionnie is a mental health counselor in Fort Worth, Texas. She loves golden retrievers, vanilla lattes, sunshine, and talking about Jesus and mental health. Follow her on Instagram and say hey!
Pray with today’s psalm.