An Ocean of Forgiveness
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." John 4:7-15
Insight
If you've ever wondered what resides at the bottom of a cruise ship, I can, unfortunately, tell you: an infirmary. On the final day of a vacation with friends, I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to go back to my cabin and rest. Unfortunately, I didn't make it that far and passed out in an elevator (or so I have been told, as I don't recall much of that day).
When I eventually came to, I found myself in a makeshift hospital bed. A Russian doctor with a thick accent said severe dehydration was to blame. I will let the irony of that statement settle for a moment. In the middle of the ocean, with water as far as the eye could see, I somehow managed to find myself dehydrated. Residing on a ship where I could order unlimited drinks and water glasses, I was still thirsty. I had spent the entire day having fun in the sun doing whatever I wanted without a care in the world while ignoring the one thing my body needed.
Don't we do the same thing when it comes to our hearts' desires, hopes, and longings? Every longing we have is a longing for life. We crave connection to a source that will leave us fulfilled and satisfied. Some of us ignore this tension, keep ourselves busy, or try to numb it away.
We scan a "dry and parched land," looking for something to wet our whistle. We attempt to quench our thirst with the things of this world, both the good and the bad. We place our faith in broken cisterns incapable of holding the water we need. At best, they are mirages that give the illusion that they can relieve our cravings.
Our soul will let us know when it can no longer run on empty. We get angrier quicker. We disengage and disconnect from the world around us. We indulge in behaviors we regret later. We grow cynical, indifferent, and jaded. We use people rather than connect with them. If our soul thirsts for God, putting our hope in anything else to bring us peace, joy and contentment will only leave us even more dehydrated and desperate. Unless we stay connected to Him, we will always find ourselves wanting.
Christ is a well that doesn't run dry. He refreshes the weary soul (Jeremiah 31:25). Christ invites us to drink in grace upon grace. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, He promises that we will never be thirsty again (John 4:13-14). Not only that, but a spring of life will erupt within the heart of those who trust Him. In essence, Jesus says, "You're thirsty? Here's an ocean of love, forgiveness, and mercy...enjoy and be satisfied." By being satisfied in Him, we serve and love others out of the overflow of our hearts.
Reflection
How are the longings you are experiencing a desire for a deeper connection with Christ?
Prayer
God, in You, and You alone, does my heart find rest. I will look to You for the security, purpose, and wholeness of my heart. I will remember that you satisfy my every longing and are better than everything else the world offers me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.