I’ve had times when I’ve been tirelessly thirsty. I thirsted for approval and acceptance. I thirsted to be desired and loved. I thirsted for peace. I thirsted for purpose and hope.
I once heard the story of a God who came to earth and died for my sins. As a child I didn’t really understand what that meant, so I counted it as nothing more than just a story. But, as I grew older, the thirst became stronger.
There are many things in this world that have brought me happiness. I sipped from various wells of water pursuing a quenching. I’ve purchased cars and trucks. I went to college and was promoted several times in my career. I have a wonderful family that loves me. I even remember the first time I felt pretty. A little boy made me a mixed tape and asked me to be his girlfriend. (Smile) Then real dating began and continued. Those things quenched a bit of thirst and have made life pleasurable. But after awhile, I got thirsty again.
As an adult I accomplished many things, met a lot of people, and seen many places. I used to think if I just achieve this particular goal, it will be enough. If I can lose weight, it will be enough. If I can only get one book published, it will be enough. If I can live a long life, it will be enough.
Over and over again, it is never enough. I thirst.
Jesus approached a woman at a well and asked for water to drink. After pondering the matter, something wonderful happened. You see, she was the thirsty one. She was drinking from a well of adultery trying to satisfy her thirst. And this is what we do. Perhaps it is adultery, gluttony, chemical dependence, and addictions of different sorts, worldly gain, or uncontrolled ambition. We drink up and we thirst. We drink up and we thirst. We drink, drink, and drink…thirst, thirst, and thirst. Nothing of this world lasts forever.
Jesus offered the woman water from a well that would never run dry. Once she drunk of the water He gave her she would never thirst again. (John 4:1-26)
He offered spiritual water for her spiritual thirsting.
I’ve had spiritual droughts in my life. Before I come to know the Lord, I longed for some kind of savior to rescue me from my problems. I found none. There was no source of joy for my sorrow. There was no flow of peace when trouble surrounded me. There was no one to protect me from the battles I fought within my own mind. Nothing else could help. Other wells were like natural water. You drink and your thirst is quenched, but once the heat rises, you thirst again. Okay for the body, but what about my soul.
Jesus offered me “living water”. You drink and never thirst again. I tasted of this living water and my life has not been the same. Living water was poured into me when I received the gift of the Holy Ghost and it continues to spring. It is a continuous refreshing that gives energy to my soul. It flows and flows without end. The Lord is my shepherd and I do not want.
Everything I need flows in the living water. I sipped and found salvation for my soul. I sipped and found a healthy self-esteem. I sipped and discovered super natural roads to journey on. Unconditional love is in the living water. My first encounter with Jesus happened almost twenty years ago, but the fulfillment of that event is as fresh as today.
Today I am not thirsty. No more frustration and anxiety that accompanies an unfulfilled craving. I’m not bitter and angry with the world. I drift away from Jesus, and I thirst. I stay close to Him and I never thirst again. My appetite is satisfied. Drink from the well that never runs dry. Never thirst again.
God’s grace is sufficient,
C.L. Evans
