In this psalm, David cries out to God for his presence. His desperation is like a person dying of thirst in the desert (1). Have you ever been that desperate for God? David had experienced God’s help time and again. But the politics and corruption of royal affairs drove him to a place more threatening than facing a lion or taking on Goliath with only a stone. Often, human circumstances and relationships can feel this way. To cope with the challenges of life, we often turn to Netflix, social media, and substances to numb our intense anxiety and stress. But these things don’t solve anything.

David shows us how to seek God earnestly as our ultimate solution. In doing so, he experiences God’s divine presence, power, glory, and love (2-3). David rejoices in God’s peace and feels fully satisfied in him (4-5). Lying on his bed, he can think of God and rest in him (6-7). He clings to God (8), revealing his firm faith. David gains confidence that his foes will go down and he will be uplifted (10-11). How different do we and our situations become when we choose to earnestly seek God as a life and death matter!
Application: Father, help me to yearn for you and trust in you, believing that you will be my help. Forgive me for seeking other things to soothe me and numb my mind. I turn to you, earnestly seeking deep peace and protection.
One Word: Yearn for God’s presence and protection