Big Idea: When your soul feels dry, hope in God brings refreshment.
Spiritual thirst isn’t a failure, it’s a signal. Does your soul “pant” for God, or something else?
When you face a spiritual and emotional wilderness, remember:
1. God invites honesty in spiritual drought. v3-5a
What have you been afraid to admit to God lately? How might you create space this week to be real with God through ‘pouring out your heart’? (Psalm 62:8; Lamentations 2:19)
2. God anchors our hope in who He is, not how I feel. v5b-6, 11a
Are you relying more on your feelings, or on God’s faithfulness right now? What truth about God do you need to speak over your own soul this week? (Psalm 34:18, Jn 7:37, 1 Pet 5:7) Just because God is silent doesn’t meant mean He’s absent. Your present situation does not reflect how God feels about you. (Heb 10:23)
3. God meet us in the depths. v7
What ‘depths’ are you currently facing? Can you recall a time when God met you in a hard or hidden place? What was that like? (Matthew 1:23, John 14, Matthew 28:20b)
4. God’s love remains constant. v8
When have you sensed God’s love, even during a spiritually dry season? What might it look like to rest in His love, instead of striving this week? (Lamentations 3:22; Zephaniah 3;17)
Drought does not disqualify you from God’s love!
03/08/2026 Is It Well With Your Soul
Psalm 42 Dennis Turner
BIG IDEA: Soul Health: an ongoing, honest appraisal of who we are (v3), through an ongoing, honest acceptance of who God says we are (v8).
The threats of the soul: Psalm 42: v3a - unending sorrow; v3b - taunting from unbelievers; vs 4&6 - removed from worship; v7 - totally overwhelmed; v9 - a feeling of abandonment.
1. Worriness - the things in life that we fret over.
2. Wariness - perpetual fear that paralyzes us.
3. Weariness - soul fatigue, just being “done with it”.
The thirsts of the soul:
1. God Himself - (vs1-2) our souls long for God in order to experience His presence.
2. The love of God (v8)
3. Hope in God (vs5,11) only God can satisfy and fulfill us.
Cultivating a rhythm of soul health:
One hour a day - meet with God
One day a week - practice Sabbath
One morning or afternoon or evening - set time apart to commune with God
One weekend a year - sabbatical or retreat
