“Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them . . . Oh, that people would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 97:8-9).
Our souls are hungry and thirsty, longing for satisfaction.
We long to be known and understood, but no one can truly and fully understand us.
We long to be loved, but no one can love us as we are.
So, we “look for love in all the wrong places.” We look to other people, but they fail us. We may look to distractions, like work, recreation, or sorry substitutes like endless computer games, social media, movies, food, alcohol, drugs, pornography, or sex.
Always, without fail, we end up disappointed and empty.
Only when we imitate those who “cried out to the LORD in their trouble” do we share their experience: “He delivered them out of their distresses” (6).
As followers of Christ, we know that Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) and he gives those who keep believing in him “rivers of living water,” that is, the constant supply of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).
When we feed on his words daily and respond in prayer for the fullness of the Spirit, he not only satisfies us with his love and his life, but also causes the Holy Spirit to overflow from us into love for others.
“Oh, that [we] would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness!” (Psalm 107:8).