“As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”

Psalm 42 opens with one of the most honest and vulnerable cries in Scripture—a soul desperate for God in a dry and weary land. In this first message of our Psalm 42 series, Pastor CJ Witkoe explores what it means to have a blessed thirst—a longing for the living God that refuses to settle for spiritual stagnation.

Psalm 42 is a lament—written for public worship by the Sons of Korah. That means this wasn’t private journaling. It was sung. Repeated. Prayed together. Because while circumstances change, human emotions don’t.

In a world full of distractions, idols, and “stagnant water,” this message asks a piercing question:

Are you thirsty for God—or just a version of Him that fits your comfort zone?

In this sermon, you’ll discover:

💧 Why biblical thirst imagery matters in a desert context
 🌊 Why our souls can’t survive on stagnant spirituality
 🔥 The difference between cultural Christianity and the living God
 🏜️ How apathy slowly replaces pursuit
 🙏 Why discipleship requires intentional drinking
 💍 What spiritual drift has in common with marriage drift

From Mount Baker stories to the Golden Calf, from dehydration statistics to Jesus’ invitation in John 7:37, this message calls us back to a raw, relentless hunger for God.

Not a God we redefine.
 Not a God we domesticate.
 Not a God we schedule.

But the living God.

“Give me God—or I will die.”

If your soul feels dry… distant… or spiritually numb, this message is an invitation to pursue again. To linger. To press in. To drink deeply.

📖 Scripture: Psalm 42:1–2, John 7:37, Exodus 32
🎙️ Series: Psalm 42
🧭 Theme: Spiritual thirst, lament, worship, encounter with God