We live in an age of consumerism, and the problem with consumerism is that it breeds dissatisfaction. We spend hours scrolling through Netflix Disney+ and walk away saying “there was nothing to watch”. We own dozens of outfits and can say, “I have nothing to wear” feel like we’re making a true statement.
The poison of consumerism and dissatisfaction isn’t limited to the physical realm. It flows over into our spiritual lives as well. If you’ve been a follower of Jesus for very long you’ve doubtless experienced what David expresses in Psalm 36 as being “in a dry and weary land where there is no water,” desperately seeking a taste of God’s presence – an experience to satisfy the soul – yet finding only dryness and dissatisfaction.
Sometimes those seasons are self-inflicted. We’ve pursued the “false cisterns” of water that are sold by the world and our consumerist society. Other times God has sovereignly hidden his face from us. But regardless of the cause in such seasons we are left tired, faint, weary, and dissatisfied with life.
How are we to deal with those seasons? The Psalmist gives us a path to follow.
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.But those who seek to destroy my life
Psalm 63
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
How to be satisfied
“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”
Psalm 36:5-7
Note the causal link in those verses: “When I remember you”. David is telling us that the path to restoring satisfaction and joy is to intentionally take time to remember and meditate on God. For him, it is something he does as he goes to bed and when he’s awake in the middle of the night, stressed and anxious about “those who seek to destroy my life” (v.9)
Odds are you’ve been there. Maybe not distressed or anxious about someone trying to kill you, but we’ve all had nights where we struggle to fall asleep or wake up at 3AM and our minds immediately begin racing. During those times – times our minds default to filling with our worry, fear, and desires, David is committed to instead meditating upon God.
And he clearly believes that as he does so his soul will be satisfied and he will find joy that overflows in praise and worship.
Remember and Meditate
If you’re feeling dry, drained, and faint of soul and spirit, try following David’s path. Make space in your day to remember and meditate.
Identify the times that you are most prone to worry and fear and shift them, intentionally making them times where you soak in God’s Word and think on all God has done. Maybe that’s twenty minutes before you go to bed. Maybe it’s 2AM when you’re awake and anxious or dealing with an inexplicably wide-awake infant. Maybe it’s on your lunch break in the midst of a stressful work day.
Whenever it is, practice what David clearly did. Remember and meditate on who God is, what he’s done, and the fact that he is truly, intimately present with you now.
Practice makes satisfaction
Commit to doing this for at least 2-3 weeks. Practice it. The shift from fear to peace, sorrow to joy, and dissatisfaction to satisfaction isn’t something that comes in a moment. Just like learning a new language or instrument, the beginning stages of this practice may well feel more frustrating and pointless than spending time letting your mind wander over familiar fearful and anxious territory.
But as you build the skills and strengths and even rewire your brain you’ll discover the satisfaction and joy that the Psalm 63 discusses. Take God’s word for it:
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 New King James Version (NKJV)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
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