Only One Place Satisfies: Thirsting for God in Troubled Times

Life is filled with moments that leave us parched—moments of trouble, turmoil, and uncertainty that awaken a deep thirst within our souls. In a recent message at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, Pastor Jim posed a question that strikes at the core of our spiritual journey: “What do you instinctively run to when life becomes difficult?” The answer to this question, he reminds us, often reveals what we truly worship.

The Many Places We Run

When trouble comes, our world offers countless places to run: entertainment, achievement, relationships, substances, technology, or even busyness itself. These “wells” may offer relief for a moment, but ultimately, they leave us thirstier than before. Why? Because our deepest need isn’t just for comfort or answers—it’s for the presence of God Himself.

Pastor Jim echoed the ancient cry of the psalmist:
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42:1-2, NIV)

This is not a shallow longing. It is deeper than words, deeper than emotion—it is the soul itself reaching for its Creator.

What We Worship in Crisis

It’s a sobering thought: “The thing we run to first in trouble usually reveals what we worship most.” If, when anxiety strikes, we instinctively reach for distraction, control, or escape, it shows what we believe will satisfy or save us. But as Pastor Jim pointed out, “There’s only one place that satisfies the deepest thirst for our souls.”

David, in Psalm 63, models this beautifully. Fleeing from danger, cut off from safety and comfort, he cries out:
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1">Psalm 63:1, ESV)

David’s longing was not for rescue, revenge, or answers, but for God Himself. He knew that God’s love “satisfies more than life itself.”

Satisfied by God’s Love

How do we get there? How do we become people whose first instinct is to run to God—whose souls thirst for Him above all else? At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, our mission is to “be the change as Jesus has changed us.” We believe this transformation comes through intentional steps: Study, Share, and Serve.

Study: Seeking God in His Word

Begin by filling your mind and heart with God’s promises. Let Scripture become the first place you turn—not just when trouble comes, but every day. The psalmist’s longing in Psalm 42 and Psalm 63 was birthed from a relationship cultivated over time, not in a moment of crisis.

• Start your day with a moment of prayer and a verse—perhaps Psalm 63:1 or John 7:37, where Jesus says, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”
• Reflect on God’s past faithfulness. Remembering what God has done fuels trust for what He will do.

Share: Walking Together

When we share our lives with others, we encourage one another to run to God instead of lesser things.

• Join a small group or a Bible study. Let others know where you’re struggling, and invite them to pray with you.
• Share your testimony of how God has met you in hard times. Your story could be the encouragement someone else needs.

Serve: Love in Action

Serving others redirects our focus from our own thirst to the needs around us. In doing so, we often find God’s presence and strength in unexpected ways.

• Serve someone facing their own desert season—offer a meal, a listening ear, or a simple act of kindness.
• Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 (NIV): “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Becoming the Change

In a world overflowing with distractions and temporary fixes, Lakeview Christian Church is committed to being a different kind of community. We are people who study to know and love God, share to know and love others, and serve with love in action. As we do, we become living witnesses to the truth that only God’s love satisfies the deepest thirst of the soul.

So, the next time trouble comes knocking, pause and ask: Where am I running first? Let’s train our hearts to run to the One who alone can satisfy, and in doing so, “be the change” Jesus calls us to be.