SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1339

“Deep Calls To Deep”

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. – Psalm 42:7

This Scripture reminds me of a time when I was swimming in the ocean while a tropical storm was brewing far out to sea. The effects of the storm brought some significant waves. I had turned momentarily to face the shore when I was hit by a large wave that tumbled, rolled, and forced me under. No sooner had I come up for air that I was hit again, repeatedly, wave after wave. I was desperate for air and to be able to stand on solid ground again.

For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. – Jonah 2:3

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. – Psalm 42:1-2

The psalmist speaks of two extremes in Psalm 42: Desperately thirsting for God and desperately gasping for air.

There are times in our lives where we feel like Jonah with the waves and billows of trials surrounding us, knocking us down, and drowning us. Other times we are like the deer, fleeing danger, parched, and panting for refreshing water. Perhaps you are in the midst of such trials right now and can relate to these feelings of desperation.

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” – Psalm 42:3

I’ve Got This!  No, you do not. If you are continuing to rely on your own resourcefulness or the help of this world instead of seeking God in prayer, you have not yet reached the depth of yourself. Deep calls to deep when we have hit our rock bottom and the only way to look is up.

Our needs are great. God’s mercy and grace are greater, and the Holy Spirit intercedes from our depth of despair to the deep love that God has for us.

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. – Romans 8:26

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. – Psalm 50:15

God’s Discipline: Sometimes, the pressure we feel from our trials are God’s discipline. The pressure of the waterfall wears away at the hardened areas of our heart where we may be harboring unrepented sin. The deep love of God calls to our deepest need for repentance.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives. – Hebrews 12:6

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Faith Response and Perspective: If our soul is in turmoil, it is because we have misplaced our faith and hope in things other than in God. Several times, the Psalmist exhorts his soul to hope in God and we should also.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation, and my God. – Psalm 42:11

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. – Psalm 42:8

Deep Calls to Deep: From the very depth of our repentant soul, cleansed and sanctified through the indwelling Holy Spirit we call to our Father in Heaven for His limitless depth of love, mercy, grace, power, and deliverance.

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause …For you are the God in whom I take refuge; … Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! – Psalm 43:1-3

Our Prayer and Benediction:

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21