Thursday, April 27, 2017

The Living Water


The rains were falling steadily all night, and as I saw a break this morning, I was drawn outside to witness the sparkling of the drops as they caressed the new growth on the peonies:


 




Have you ever been thirsty?
I am speaking about the kind of thirsting
where you feel so thirsty there is a fainting in your soul.












I have been in that land of thirsting,
and I have watched the shimmering waves
of heat baking the desert sands
as my parched soul 
looked up to Heaven
waiting
for even one cloud to form.



Many years ago, my family traveled and shared a drama in which I portrayed The Woman at the Well. Week after week, in many different settings, my lips spoke the cry of a woman so thirsty that she begged for a drink when the well was right before her. You see, Jesus had offered to her a different kind of water: a filling up for her soul's thirsting.



"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.'”



As the weeks and the months passed, everytime I spoke those woman's words, a deeper longing was planted in my own heart. I didn't know it at the time, though. I thought I was being filled, as I gave out the words of Jesus, week after week.  


Ah, how does it happen?
How does a cry in our heart
become lodged so deep
that only another
longing
can answer in return?



I thought I knew how deep the well in my own heart was. I thought I felt the fullness of my Lord's Words when I shared His heart with those around me.  But I had only scratched the surface.  I offered my praise, and I offered my worship, and my Lord knew what was required to let me see my own unmet longing.


The desert of pain
And the heat of suffering
burned away the 
half-met longings
to uncover
the well where
full-hearted cries
could finally be uttered.



I have some very dear friends who continually pray for my healing. They wait in hope for the day that Jesus will restore movement to me, and a full remission in this place of pain. Where would I be without their sweet prayers of HOPE? And I do see improvement from the awful heat and swelling that began this journey of disease.


But there is a deeper healing 
in my soul
that I would never trade
even for just a day 
without physical pain.


For how can I tell
of the wondrous
filling
for my soul's 
thirsty well?

How can I sing
of my Savior's dear Presence
carrying my heart
to His bosom of rest
when the pain
overwhelms?

And How will I share
these dewdrops of love
poured down on my heart
when the desert sky
breaks
with the water
from Heaven?



Is your heart facing a desert sun today? Are you fainting as the heat of the day wastes your soul?  There is a filling that can happen for you too, my friend.  There is a place of stillness close to the heart of God where He calls you to come. It is His very Word spoken at the end of our drama, week after week. I longed for those words to be mine, years ago, but it took the pain of suffering to bring them home to my heart:



"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life."








I am linking today with:
 







    

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful. Yes, God is the source of rest and the only way to quench that soul thirst. Thank you for this encouragement. Visiting from #livefreeThursday

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    Replies
    1. Dear Dawn,
      Thank you for visiting! I am so glad that you found encouragement here. What a precious Lord we have who brings us such rest and such filling! Blessings to you!

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  2. I am praying for you right now.

    God bless you always.

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    1. Thank you so much, Brother! I appreciate every prayer so much! Blessings to you also.

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  3. This is beautifully crafted, Bettie.
    The living water, water of life, fountain of living water....
    Thank God for your journey thus far.
    Holding hands in prayer 😘

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    1. Dear Ifeoma,
      Thank you so much for your prayers! And thank you for sharing your words with me--it truly is God's timing to be reading them now, and to remember and see the deep places where He has been working. Blessings, Love and Hugs to you my friend!

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  4. "There is a place of stillness close to the heart of God where He calls you to come." Yes, and I need to stay at that place throughout my days. The piano music you share is beautiful and so calming. After all the busyness of the past couple of days, it is so soothing. Thank you for sharing.

    Your words, too, are a balm reminding me of how much my Savior loves and cares.

    Blessings to you my dear sister/poet/friend. xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Dear Gayl,
      Oh yes, isn't that piano music so filled with peace? My son sent me the link to listen to it a few weeks ago, and I have been listening to it in the mornings, sometimes while sitting outside soaking in God's beauty. I am so thankful that HE has given you and I places where we can see His creation and still our hearts with Him! His Presence is such a balm! Blessings to you also my dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo

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  5. The woman at the well, Sam is what I call her when writing - you know, she's a Samaritan and all. Could be my very favorite story of redemption. xo

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    1. Oh I am glad that she is a favorite of yours also! I always called her "That Woman" when I was practicing and sharing the Drama, but SAM is so much nicer! :)

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  6. Hi Bettie - I am so glad you could join the party last week at #TuneInThursday. I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get around to commenting on your post, I had a retreat I was speaking at this past weekend, and it put me behind a few days.

    I just love peonies, I am trying to grow some of my own this year.. we had them at our old house, but we moved 2 years ago and I attempted to plant some last year to no avail... (I don't really have a green thumb) but I am trying - I love your words - God is the only one that can satisfy - amen - thanks again.

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    1. Dear Debbie,
      Oh, I hope you had a wonderful time at the Retreat! I'm sure that God used your words there--you are such a great encourager!

      I had to move my peonies around a few times before they found their happy place, so don't give up yet! :-) And, you know, that makes me think of how our Lord finds just the right way to bring the satisfaction that each of us needs! Springtime Blessings to you!

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