Day 141 – Longing

Psalm 42:1 (To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.) As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O Elohiym. 2 My soul thirsts for Elohiym, for the living Elohiym. When will I come and appear before Elohiym? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me, “Where is your Elohiym?” 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of Elohiym, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within me? Hope in Elohiym, for I will yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

 6 O my Elohiym, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. 7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; Your waves and billows have gone over me. 8 JEHOVAH will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song will be with me—a prayer to the Elohiym of my life. 9 I will say to Elohiym my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me, while they say to me throughout the day, “Where is your Elohiym?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within me? Hope in Elohiym; for I will yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my Elohiym.

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Living

Help

Lovingkindness

Rock

Eighteen percent of adults in the US and five percent of adults worldwide suffer from depression. However, everyone suffers from depression from time to time. Not clinical, but days when things are off for one reason or another.

Korah’s family were priests from the tribe of Levi. When they couldn’t go to the temple, they felt disheartened and longed for the day when they would return to worship Elohiym again. They encouraged themselves, knowing it would happen.

Do you feel the same longing to go to church to worship with other believers when you can’t be there for various reasons? The recent pandemic was a time when Christians couldn’t gather in joint worship and praise. Family emergencies, vacations, just being in a different place away from those familiar to you can cause a longing for everything to return to normal.

You can tell yourself it’s okay because you can read your Bible, listen to Christian music, even attend a church away from home, but it’s not the same as corporate worship with your friends and family in your home church.

Once you return to church, see your friends again, your smile is huge, and your spirit rejoices to be where you belong. Your time away fades into a memory. The sons of Korah longed for their return, knowing the joy it would bring.

Yeshuwa knows the longing in your heart to be with your friends and family when you can’t go to your home church. He encourages you with songs in the night, letting you know He isn’t far from you, even though you’re far from home where everything is familiar.

Don’t let Satan discourage you when your life isn’t familiar. Keep your focus on Yeshuwa as the sons of Korah kept their focus on Elohiym, and you will find Him guiding your life.

Let’s pray: Father, let me always feel Your presence when I can’t be in familiar places to worship You. Let Your Holy Spirit bring songs of praise at night, refreshing my spirit and bringing joy to my heart because You are always near. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 8 June 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux