‘My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God’

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

THAT should be the deepest longing of every Christian. (cfr. Ps 63,2) We all thirst for something. Success. Peace of mind. Security. Recognition. Love. Happiness. These are natural desires. But above them all, there should be one desire that surpasses every other—the desire for God.

Why? Because God is not just another blessing. He is the source of every blessing. He is not merely part of our life. He is our life. Everything else has its place, but only as a means. God alone is our ultimate end. Only he can satisfy the deepest hunger of the human heart. Every created thing, however beautiful, remains limited. Only the Infinite can fill a soul made for eternity.

We were created in God’s image and likeness. That is the foundation of our identity. We were made to know him, love him, and share in his very life. Our dignity and destiny are found in him alone.

God never stops reaching out to us. He constantly gives us grace. He guides, strengthens, and enlightens us. He provides everything we need to grow in holiness and reach our eternal home. Whether life is easy or difficult, whether we experience success or disappointment, his providence never fails.

The real question is not whether God is present. The real question is whether we are listening. God is never absent. He is closer to us than we are to ourselves. Every heartbeat, every breath, every new day is sustained by his loving power. If he were to withdraw that love for an instant, we would simply cease to exist.

The problem is not God’s silence. It is our noise. We become absorbed in work, deadlines, gadgets, entertainment, ambitions, anxieties, and endless distractions. Our schedules become full, but our souls become empty. Surrounded by many voices, we fail to hear the One voice that truly matters.

Yet God never stops speaking. He gently prompts us to do good, avoid evil, forgive, be generous, remain humble, and trust him. He patiently points us toward lasting peace. We only need to develop the habit of listening.

Ask him before making decisions. Seek his light before speaking. Turn to him before reacting. Thank him after every blessing. Consult him before taking the next step. This conversation with God should become as natural as breathing.

Too often we treat God as someone to consult only in emergencies. We pray when problems arise, but once life becomes comfortable again, we quietly take back the driver’s seat. We rely once more on our own intelligence, talents, and resources. That is not the life Christ calls us to live.

Our relationship with God cannot be occasional or selective. It has to be constant. Genuine discipleship means allowing him to guide not only the big decisions but also the ordinary moments of every day.

This is not always easy. God’s invitations often involve sacrifice. They require us to let go of selfishness, pride, comfort, resentment, and unhealthy attachments. Love always demands self-giving.

But we should never fear these sacrifices. Every act of self-denial is an opportunity to become more like Christ. Every cross accepted with faith becomes a step closer to God. Every generous “yes” enlarges our heart and teaches us to love with greater freedom.

That is why we should always thirst for God. The more we seek him, the more we discover his goodness. The more we discover him, the more we love him. And the more we love him, the more we realize that nothing in this world can compare with the joy of belonging completely to him.

May our greatest desire each day be not simply to receive God’s gifts, but to possess God himself. For when we have him, we truly have everything.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com