Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith ~ Karen Hossink "I Just Want to be With You"

As the deer pants for streams of water, so mu soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2

It was an ordinary afternoon, and I was doing ordinary things, when God put an extraordinary desire in my heart.

Matthew had come into the house with his head hanging low. He had gotten into trouble and he knew discipline was to follow. We talked about the situation for a moment and I told him to go take a time out. While Matthew does not typically skip and whistle on his way to the couch for time out, he does usually go. But not on this day.

Instead, he stood at my feet crying, his arms raised up toward me. With some combination of crying and yelling, Matthew said over and over, “I just want to be with you! I just want to be with you!” The desperation in his voice rather took me by surprise.

He had just been outside playing and having a good time with his friends. It would make sense to me if he begged to go back out and play. I understood he was not wild about being sent to the couch for time out, but why the intensity of desire to be with me? Surely I am not as interesting as other kids, bugs or bikes are. But Matthew kept repeating, “I just want to be with you!”

As I observed my little boy that afternoon, the desperation in his voice made me wish to have the same kind of longing for God. I wished to have a hunger in my heart which cries out to God, “I just want to be with You!”

O, for my greatest desire to be His presence. I want to come to the point in my life when nothing here on earth is as alluring to me as the presence of God. It seems crazy but sometimes I desire the stuff of earth so much, I lose sight of God. Sometimes I forget how amazing it is to be with Him.

On occasion I have been places where the presence of God is undeniable. While attending various women’s conferences, Christian concerts, and Sunday morning worship services, I have known without a doubt the Spirit of God was among us. Those moments were glorious, and I wished they would never end. I would like to think I had a little taste of heaven.

It is easy to long for God in those circumstances, but I know He is just as present in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. God is with me and He is powerful when I am doing laundry. He is present when I am strolling down the aisles of the grocery store, and when I am picking my kids up at school. Even when I am scrubbing the bath tub and cleaning the toilet, God is close to me and I can enjoy His presence.

Before I sent him off to the couch, I bent down to pick up Matthew. He was comforted in my embrace. Standing there with my little boy’s arms wrapped tightly around my neck, I thought about having such an intense desire for God. I longed to yearn for Him desperately. As I held Matthew and thanked God for giving him to me, I marveled at the lesson He had just taught me. Then I thanked Him that He loves for me to just want to be with Him.

Your Turn: Do you have an overwhelming desire to be in God’s presence? Can you imagine yourself as a child calling out to Him, “I just want to be with You!” Read Psalm 42:1-2 and visualize a thirsty deer panting for water.

Is that picture an accurate depiction of your desire for God? If so, spend quiet time simply resting in and enjoying His presence right now. If not, pray and ask Him to build that desire in you.

Write down Psalm 42:1-2 on a piece of paper and carry it in your pocket today. He wants you to desire Him desperately and I believe He will answer your sincere prayer.