Why Am I Still Thirsty?

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13,14 (New American Standard Bible)

This verse has often thrown me. It use to make me wonder what was wrong with me. I had trusted Christ as my Savior and yet I still thirsted…for many things. I was thirsty for friendships, thirsty for love, thirsty for affirmation, thirsty for a meaningful life, thirsty for acknowledgement….the list is endless. I thought this verse meant eternally satisfied and I knew I wasn’t! I thought it meant I would know the answers to all my questions and dilemmas but I didn’t. Over the years it became a verse that taunted me more than comforted me. It became illusive rather than embraceable. I often wondered how it applied to me. How could Jesus’ words to the woman of Samaria be whispered to my heart as well?

God began to slowly open my eyes. He made a single phrase stand out to me. WHOEVER DRINKS!!!! Yes, when I trusted Christ as my Savior some 30+ years ago He made available to me internally an artesian well for my refreshment. But just like my water supply at home, if I don’t drink from it I will get thirsty! Whereas if I drink water throughout the day thirst will not be an issue. I will walk satisfied. Once He showed me the necessity for continually drinking from His internal supply, my next question was “how?” How do I drink from this living water within me?

I am learning that my drinks come every time I open Scripture and take in truth, every time I trust Him, every time I cry out to Him in prayer, every time I ask for a filling of His Spirit, every time I look to Him to meet my needs instead of looking to people, every time I sense His presence, every time I let music minister to me, every time I digest truths from Christian books. It boils down to my interaction with my Heavenly Father.

Now, thirst is an issue when too much time lapses between my moments of drinking at the well. May I not allow that to happen!

Father, I have been to the other wells. I thought I was quenching my thirst but I was only getting more thirsty. Today I drink my fill of You. Saturate me! Amen.