Satisfying Our Thirst
Scripture Reading — Psalms 42-43
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
On a hot day, nothing cools and revives us like water. Whether we drink it, splash our faces with it, or plunge into it—water refreshes. Our eyes can thirst for the sight of it and our ears long for the sound of it. A spectacular waterfall can take our breath away. There is nothing else in creation like water; it is essential to life.
Our psalmist shares our appreciation. Stranded far away from God’s temple, which symbolized God’s presence among his people, the psalmist ached to be nearer, yearned to be with God in the traditional place of worship. Yet the writer reminded himself that God could be found close at hand too.
Deprived of the fresh stream of water that is God, sometimes we try to refill our souls with our tears, but they can’t satisfy our thirst. Reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in the past can be a refreshing drink; remembering God’s promises can soak us in waves of hope. When others share stories with us of how God has quenched their thirst, they push us into the pool of God’s grace. These psalms assure us that there is plenty of living water to satisfy all our thirst.
Even more, Jesus stands ready at his well of living water, offering us the life-giving Spirit of God as a spring that wells up within us to eternal life (John 4:14).
Have you been refreshed by the water of life?
We are thirsty, Lord Jesus, for the living water that only you can provide. Fill us to overflowing with your abiding presence and steadfast love. Amen.
About the author — Thea Leunk
Thea Nyhoff Leunk has been a high school English teacher, a director of Christian education, a pastor of discipleship, and a regional coach for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She is currently the senior pastor at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thea has also written courses for teens and young adults on world religions, Christian faith traditions, and science and the Bible. She and her husband have three adult children.
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