Thirst

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

Physically, we thirst. We require water to function and survive, to thrive even. In a very similar way, spiritually we need ‘living water.’ 

Our spiritual lives are often this ebb and flow of consolation and desolation. We feel consoled by God when we are close to Him, and then we feel alone, unaware of His presence. 

And, while what we ‘feel’ may change, how we act shouldn’t. This is the challenge for us. 

We can easily recognize when we’re physically thirsty, and we know the feeling of relief after quenching that thirst. But, spiritually — how often do we not even realize we are thirsty, that we need God? Can we even remember what it’s like to taste a drop of this ‘living water?’

In times of dryness, we often get comfortable. We get accustomed to our spiritual thirst. We learn to live with it. But, our thirst is meant to be quenched.  

So, what can we do when we experience dryness? Even though our feelings aren’t driving us, our wills can. It takes an act of the will to push through the aridity. 

In this dryness, we must pray for the desire to desire God, for the want to want Him, for the thirst to thirst His presence.  

This prayer, this hope, should remain constant in our lives, helping us to always shift our gaze toward God. 

Sometimes, if not most times, love is a choice, a decision, an act of the will — especially when our heart doesn’t ‘feel’ it.