By Angela Koenig
O God, thou art my God, I seek thee,
my soul thirsts for thee;
my flesh faints for thee,
as in a dry and weary land where no water is. ~Psalm 63:1
Oh God, you are my God—these words hold such a power in my joyful yet weary heart. For some time now, I have known that my God has allured me into the desert, not to leave me barren, but to speak tenderly to me, to remind His forgetful beloved that He alone can fulfill me. His love is better than life; I know this because He has revealed it to me. Why, then, do I so often play the harlot and submit to lesser things?
For You I Long
We’ve all been in the desert before sisters, some of you are there with me right now. I am ashamed to admit that for many months, I’ve viewed this time as punishment. I’ve spent so much time looking at my faults and weaknesses; I forgot being in the desert was never about me. It’s about Him. The desert provides an open space to love and trust God with total abandon. It is a gift, never a punishment.
I Cling to You
What a grace it is that we are always under the wings of our Father, protected, loved, and cared for. The beautiful thing about the barren desert is that it waits in patient hope for the gentle rain. I often ask God to send me a flood. I want immediate healing, miraculous transformation. While the Father can undoubtedly provide this, He is infinitely wiser than me, so He begins by sending a shower to gently prepare the land for the flood of mercy He intends to provide when the ground is ready for it.
Whenever you find yourself in the desert, look to the One who speaks tenderly to you, for he will always send you the rain, exactly when the land is ready for a rainstorm.
Prayer
Have mercy on me, Lord, in Your goodness open my heart to receive Your love, quench my thirst with the water only You can provide. Amen
Call to Action
Today marks the start of the novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a soul whose land was flooded with love for God. If you find yourself parched and weary, invite the Little Flower to shower you with roses. Ask her to bring the source of all her joy, Jesus Christ, to rain down His love and graces upon you.
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Thank you, Angie. This is a beautiful reflection. Psalm 63 is what I recite when I enter the chapel where I attend Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament each week. It speaks to my heart. Thank you for adding to my contemplation of this Psalm!
Thank you for the kind words Mary! Whenever I enter a church and pray, before and after communion, kneeling in thanksgiving after Mass… I’m always reciting Psalm 63. Such strong imagery of the desire I have for my Savor, and how He longs to fulfill me.