Longing for God’s Presence

Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God. My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see God’s face?

— Psalm 42:1-2 (CEB)

This familiar opening to Psalm 42 reminds us that humans were created to long for and cry out for the presence of God. The image of a defenseless doe helps make the scene all the more poignant and poetic. A doe alone at a stream would feel nervous and exposed. The necessity of her thirst would drive her to the water’s edge, but the very act of drinking puts her into a physically vulnerable position. So before taking a drink, she will shriek and bark to warn off any lurking predators and to seek protective assistance from friendly companions that may be nearby.

The psalm encourages us to cry out to our Creator from the depths of our being and to acknowledge our need for the living God to act on our behalf. Our existence is linked to God’s life and creative will. But of course, desiring to literally see the face of such a vibrant and immense Being could have dangerous, unintended consequences. As Exodus 19 warns, a full-on experience of God’s direct presence is beyond our human capacity.

The act of prayer, as outlined in Psalm 42, properly mediates our engagement with such a powerful Being. Yes, there are boundaries between humans and God, but when we cry out to God, we can be assured that the Creator of the universe loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.