How Is It With Your Soul? Part 2
Ruth Haley Barton in her book Sacred Rhythms wrote that many of us are weary at the soul level. The invisible yet vital part of our selves that brings all of our various parts together and defines who we are, our soul, is also the most neglected part of our lives.
This weariness comes from ignoring its basic needs, and caring for our soul involves first paying attention to it. It means to develop a growing awareness of the inner parts of ourselves and what is taking place inside. Our inner person may feel chaotic, in crisis, anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed. Some of us may feel nothing as we turn inward into the soul, the deepest parts of ourselves, and that is okay. We simply need to start paying attention to our soul and what it might be saying to us.
The Psalmist in Psalm 42 is very aware of the state of his soul. He writes:
“As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God” [italics added] (NIV).
The Psalmist reflects not only an awareness of his soul but also what his soul needs, and he speaks to it and encourages his soul to find hope in God in the midst of his challenges. In the midst of doubt and uncertainty, the Psalmist finds peace and hope by reminding himself of who God is.
At the core of weariness in life is our deepest need to be in relationship with God, and this is the cry of the Psalmist’s heart. Our souls are desperate for that everlasting fulfillment that comes with intimacy with God.
Perhaps spend some time today or this week meditating on this Psalm, paying attention to what is going on inside, and where your soul is calling out to God. Find peace and rest in God your rock as His love pours over you day and night.