Quench

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. – Psalm 42:1

It was one of those mornings – I wake up to a scratchy feeling that tells me that I am on the verge of developing a sore throat. I stumble my way to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I down one, and yet another, but the thirst remains. Unquenchable.

It was one of those evenings – in a season of dryness, I drag myself to a Christian conference because my soul is thirsty for more of Him. I try to worship but my praise is drowned out by the music. I yearn for the message but the multiple announcements are testing my patience. Finally the guest speaker comes on, but the introduction goes on for 30 minutes too long. I shut my eyes to focus on God’s voice, but all I hear is noise. My spirit tosses and turns. At that moment I make my decision – I am too thirsty to stay, so I walk out leaving my baffled friends behind. I decide to walk home. Unsatisfied.

Along the way home, I stop by a canal and start to pour out my angst to the Lord. As I looked into the water, Psalm 42:1 came alive. I was so thirsty on so many levels beyond a physical thirst, I was spiritually empty. I pause to write down my thoughts, and that was how the verses of Quench were written.

In our thirsty desperation, do we draw from the wrong sources? Worldly pleasures may provide momentary happiness, but the thirst grows and becomes insatiable. Our egos swell up. Our addictions consume us. But the God-shaped void us remains. Thanks be to God, that only the fountain of life - Jesus Christ – is able to satisfy our deepest desires.

When we come to Jesus, He offers us living water – the Holy Spirit – that we may never thirst again. The Holy Spirit in us becomes a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14-15). In the light of God’s glory, everything else fades away. We no longer thirst for the ‘lesser’ desires which lead to death. When we delight in the Lord, He satisfies the deepest desires of our heart.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:7-9)

Do not neglect that place of communion with the Lord. Christian activity and ministry work cannot be a substitute for quality time with the Lord. Even Jesus needed that daily time of communion with Father God. Be intentional to get away from the busyness of doing too many things. Retreat to a quiet place if you need to. Keep digging deeper. Press on, dig deep until you have reached God’s wells of salvation, which you can finally draw from with joy in your heart!