Have you ever played or worked so hard in the scorching heat that it feels like you can’t quench your thirst or regain the energy you once had?
Do you ever feel like your state of spiritual thirst is also draining you physically? Do you feel like this now? Is it possible that, on top of everything else, you might also be struggling with control?
There are many places in the Bible that refer to living water or thirst. Many of them are in the Psalms. Does that surprise you? David expresses these things while he is in the wilderness. Psalm 63:1 says something like this: “I thirst for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
Someone recently told me that I need to make sure I am plugged into the Source so that I am being refilled, so I have what I need to pour out.
Take a moment to read Psalm 23:
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
This psalm talks about how God brings His people to places of refreshment; how do we get to those places? We have to let go of control—of where we think we should go—in order to follow Him to where He is actually taking us. Then we have to be willing to receive it. He is not going to force us to drink the water. It does not say He leads you beside still waters so He can force it down your throat.
How many times do we go our own way, only to end up dry and empty, even though He knew where the water was? How many times do we let Him take us there, only to sit on the riverbank and stare at it?
It’s funny how we actually have to learn how to rest. I don’t think most animals have that problem; I wonder why. Is it because we don’t trust God? Is it because we are trying to please all the people around us? Is it because we are filling a pain in our lives—or distracting ourselves from it? You know what I mean: pain inflicted by rejection, abuse, or lies. Is it because of a belief that you have to earn something? How many of you—or the friends around you—are struggling with anxiety or stress? It seems like a plague these days.
God tells us not to be anxious, but to come to Him; maybe it all boils down to trust in the end. Do you trust Him? Can you rest in Him? Do you even make time for Him? Do you let Him lead you? Do you believe He will?
Share with us how you learned to trust the Lord; share how He changed your perspective and how you learned to rest. Don’t forget to stay plugged into the Source so you can be refreshed—and overflowing into others.
