The treasure I want to share with you today is one of my favorite Scriptures.It is from Psalm 42: 1-2a "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God...."
Ever since I was a little girl I have loved deer. I like to try to catch a glimpse of them while driving through the mountains, I liked bringing my children to the Catskill Game Farm when they were little so they could feed the baby deer, I like pictures of deer drinking from lakes and I love how quiet they are. They are always so peaceful and graceful looking even when bounding back into the woods when your car whizes by.
Once in college, when I was a freshman, and was walking in the early evening across the soccer field, I was in deep despair over a situation that had been going on in my life. I was at a Christian college in the suburbs of Rochester, NY....not a place where we usually saw deer. I had been crying out to the Lord for Him to intervene in this situation and to bring me peace. I was praying and walking at the same time. I looked up across the field and there was a doe grazing. One of my favorite animals and something I hadn't seen in a very long time, nor ever saw again on that campus. To me, that was a sign that the Lord heard my cries and that He would indeed bring me peace. This type of thing, a deer just showing up at the side of the road or in a field, has happened to me 3 times in my life. Each time it was when I was in the midst of some kind of inner struggle or pleading with God about a certain situation. Each time it has been the same situation. I am not free to discuss it here (the internet thing, you know?!) but I can assure you that each time I needed some type of assurance that God does indeed want to fill me up with Him, with His Spirit, He has sent a deer.
And....it happened again this past weekend. My husband was driving us home from NYC; it was early Sunday evening. We were on the interstate traveling through the Catskills. I had been silently praying and thinking of this certain situation and needing to feel that peace from God. Now, I am not one who believes I need a "sign" to find that true peace. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God's peace and truths aren't based on my earthly feelings or lack thereof. However, I am the kind of person who does need reassurance from time to time that He really is there and longs to quench my thirst for Him. All of a sudden, I looked off to the side of the road where there was a meadow and.....a doe with her fawn.
God did it again and it was a treasure for me to store in my heart while I work on this spiritual/emotional struggle. And....He is working! He is showing me through His Word that He loves me no matter what! His mercies are new every morning and His grace covers me. I can keep bringing Him these same feelings and He takes them and carries them. I know that if I continue to keep my eyes and heart on Him and His promises that He will give me the peace that passes all understanding like the promise from Philippians 4. He knows what I am struggling with and He wants me to have the victory over it.....and that is a treasure from Him!
AND...thank you to all of you who left me such thoughtful comments about keeping me in prayer...it means alot to me...and remember...if we never meet here on earth, we will in heaven!!
9 comments:
Faith,
I love this verse, too! I love the "As the Deer" song, too.
Isn't it neat when God gives us these little hugs to let us know how much He loves us? I feel the same way about butterflies. Every time I see one I feel it is like getting a hug from my heavenly father.
Thanks for sharing such an encouraging post. ;)
Thanks for sharing your inner world. I can completley relate to your need for reassurance. The Lord has done similar things for me during a crisis... He's SO kind.
Your deer sighting is very special. It's those moments that fill us up and carry us for a long time.
Blessings!
What a comforting post, thank you so much Faith. I love how you have seen deer when you have been deep in struggle/emotion. What a precious faith God has cultivated in you. Thanks for sharing that. I will be attentive to the little blessings God puts in my path while I am in the midst of similar situations. Thanks.
I love how God knows exactly what we need at the exact time. This post was so encouraging and comforting and a testimony to how much God cares and loves each one of us and knows useach so well.
Hi!
Thanks so much for your encouraging comment on my blog today! I just had to come by here!
This is such a beautiful post. It speaks so wonderfully of His tenderness. He doesn't have to give us moments like that, but He does. I think we all have those things in our lives that He uses to speak so clearly to us of His love and His presence. He is so personal, so intimate. I love the way He loves us! And I am glad we are able to bring everything we struggle with to Him. He is so good!
May you continue to feel His peace and His joy guarding your heart and your mind!
Love and blessings,
Kimberly
Oh Faith, I have also had the same type of wonderful messages from God saying - I Am Here!
One night after having a disagreement with my husband I was out driving and praying. I started singing As The Deer and then off on the side of the road was a deer. In quite an unusual spot too. I had to pull off the side of the road because I started sobbing and pouring my heart out to Him. It was an amazing experience. He is so good! And like you I don't need a sign, but He knew that I needed that to remind me that He was right there and to put my trust in Him.
And Blogville is a wonderful place to share prayer requests, isn't it? Some people think I'm silly for having "online friends" as they call them My friends don't realize what true friendships these really are. My heart gets invested with each and everyone of you and I cannot wait to meet in Heaven!
Back to share with you the little surprise that I saw while out peeking on a magpie nest. I saw a beautiful little yellow warbler. Oh my goodness he/she was so magnificent and I don't usually see this bird. It was YELLOW and GREEN. So unusual for a bird like that here. We see lots of brown birds, black and white... but this one was so yellow! I remembered your deer story. :-)
Praising God for His incredible creation!
That's beautiful. I think that God sends us signs from time to time. He knows we are human and that seeing/touching/feeling is how we operate.
I'm still praying for you Faith.
I love how God gives us glimpses of Him in places we don't expect.
I have been through those hard times that you speak of and at just the right moment He will give me a glimpse of Him to tell me He sees me.
He sees you...every hurting place, He sees. He is allowing you to see because He is inviting you to your healing.
I pray today that you will see the warmth of His embrace as His arms surround you and hold you tight.
Julie
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