Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer

Doe, a Deer, a Female Deer...

Now that I have your attention, take a minute to read these words from David:

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. “O God my rock,” I cry, “why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” – ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not sure if you grew up singing “As the Deer,” but it was a staple at Opendoor during my childhood. It’s a beautifully written song, and every time we sang it –and we sang it all the time– it brought a certain peace to my heart. I’ll admit, as a pastor’s kid, I’ve got some lingering baggage…but that’s a story for another day. 

However, upon further inspection, it would serve us well to ask, “Why was the deer thirsty to begin with?”

The truth is that the deer was running from its hunters and enemies. David didn’t intend for this to be a quiet song that we passively sing. No, the context is simple. David was surrounded by enemies, and those enemies were people who had, at one time, been closest to him. Now, he was running for his life, and he likens his running to a deer that is thirsty from being chased.

David, much like I do at times, sounds a little double-minded. He repeatedly reminds himself to trust in God, yet he also writes about the difficulties of life. He vacillates a few times in what you just read.

As disturbing as it may seem, this is why I love David so much. I think I understand him more than any character in Scripture because he allows us to see the inner workings of his soul. He is vulnerable with God, and God evidently wanted us to get a view into this vulnerability because he included it in the Bible. 

Let’s not forget, the Bible clearly says that David was a man after God’s heart.

Here’s what I’ve come to believe. It’s okay to wrestle with our struggles. It’s okay to pour our hearts out to God. Being honest and vulnerable is important; in fact, I believe God appreciates it.

I encourage you to try something that has really helped me. Today, I wrote down what I was struggling with, how I was feeling, and what I don’t like right now. Then, I reminded myself to trust in God.

“As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you.”

May this line never be seen the same again. He is the Living Water, and He alone satisfies. We just have to remember that fact from time to time. Maybe that’s the point of the hardships, struggles, and trials we face sometimes. They often help us remember that He is trustworthy and welcomes us just as we are.

We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!