I love the ocean, something about being near the water makes me see things more clearly. I see God’s power, His faithfulness, His abundance. I see how vast He is and how much being with Him refreshes and satisfies my soul.
Back in January of 2018, our family made a trip to the beach just after I had a major shoulder surgery. I was depressed, in pain, and desperate for joy. It wasn’t until I sat on the beach—cold wind blowing in my face with the waters raging against the shore that I felt refreshed and renewed. Just by sitting at the edge of the water watching the tide go in and out, I remembered God’s faithfulness, His power, and His provision. Being there was a healing balm for my weary soul. I found God’s infinite grace there and was reminded of the sufficiency found in my Grace-giver.
After that time, I began to feel like myself. It’s as though being there, surrounded by God’s beautiful creation, filled me with waters of life and made me alive again.
It makes sense. Afterall, water represents life in Scripture. Without it, we can’t live more than a few days, and Jesus, Himself, is the Living Water, and there are so many stories and references of water in the Bible especially surrounding miracles.
- The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus
- Water from a rock (Exodus
- Bitter water turned sweet (Exodus
- Naaman’s healing in the waters (2 Kings 5)
- Parting of the Jordan (Joshua
- Turning water to wine (John 4)
- Calming of the storm and walking on water (
These are just some of the water references. It’s important to note that the second verse of the Bible mentions water, and some of the last words in Revelation reference water.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. –Genesis 1:2
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. –Revelation 22:17
In the Bible water is known for healing, cleansing, purification, sanctification, eternal life, turmoil, peace, baptism, and quenching thirsts.
My point is this …
Water is essential to physical life, just as Jesus is essential to our spiritual life.
As we journey through this time of “refreshment” together over the next few weeks, we are going to look at some of the Gospel accounts of Jesus and water. But we won’t stop there. We will also look at some Old Testament water references and their symbolism. I believe we will come away thirsting for more and more of Jesus as we look to Him to satisfy the deepest longings of our soul.
Psalm 42:1-2a says, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Can you echo those words?
Does your soul thirst?
To whom or to what do you turn to quench that thirst?
- Fame
- Fortune
- Food
- Frivolity
John 7:37-39 extends an invitation from the Thirst-quencher to come to Him. Take in these inviting and refreshing words of Jesus.
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.’” But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
That was the invitation then and it is the invitation today. “Come to me.” Come to me if you’re thirsty. Come to me if you’re in need. Come to me for satisfaction. Come to me—the Thirst -Quencher.
At the beginning of this devotional, I told the story of going to the beach after my shoulder surgery and the refreshment I found in just being near the water. What I didn’t tell you about were the six weeks leading up to that trip, those days and weeks just after the surgery that left me weak and worn and weary. That period of time when I was in so much pain, I couldn’t even read God’s Word. Those times when I couldn’t utter a word in prayer, except to say, “Lord, please help me.” I can say with all honesty that I have never experienced that sort of unrelenting pain. The type of hurting that left me longing for something that would quench my pain.
Yet nothing worked. Nothing except time.
But here’s what I did experience in the midst of my pain. I experienced an unending river of God’s grace during that period. Though my pain was unquenched for quite some time, my Spirit was refreshed because of the closeness with the Lord I encountered. To keep going and to smile in the midst of the pain was God’s grace and strength in my weakness. To allow the Lord to satisfy and nourish my dry bones with His loving kindness became a healing balm to my heart, body, mind, and soul.
I will never forget that trip to the water. Though my pain was evident, my heart was stirred at that water, and my thirst for more of God was quenched as He poured out His grace, love, and mercy on me in those moments. God’s grace poured out brought me to life through His Spirit on the day of my salvation, and His grace brought me back to life in those days of suffering and pain when He poured out comfort and healing.
I wonder what’s going on with you.
From where is your satisfaction coming?
Who is sustaining you?
In what area of life do you desperately need refreshment?
I encourage you to stop now and pray. Ask the Lord to refresh you this week and satisfy your thirst as you sink deep into His Word.
Turn to the Living Water. Turn to the Thirst-Quencher. He alone will satisfy your deepest need. The Living Water will quench the thirst in your heart that is pulling you toward sin and selfishness. The Thirst-quencher will revive, restore, and renew you today.
Come.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. –Revelation 22:17
If you would like to go deeper this week in your study of Jesus, our Thirst-Quencher, click here to hear a message from the Online Bible Study, Refresh Week 1.
