Drinking from the Well of Living Water

Dear Storm-tossed, Worn and Weary Traveler,

The seas are raging, and the waters are rough. There is scant assurance from both history and the near horizon that the world is getting more peaceful; on the contrary, it continues to churn and convulse without end. Yes, there will be peace on earth, but not before the perfect storm is over. Even so, I pray that your soul is well. Many of us have ventured into uncharted waters these past few years, following the starry signals overhead given by the Captain Himself.

While the coast isn't clear just yet, we know we are so close to harbor. So close to home.

What you and I need right now is endurance. Knowing what we know about the Master's plan can be a burden at times, especially when no one else shares our joy and understanding (Eccl. 1:18). Nevertheless, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Captain and trust that His gracious Word is sufficient. His word is the fuel to our faith, a nourishing fire that can cause the frigid heart to burn again with a sustaining passion and fervor.

Fellow traveler, have the winds of change and unmet expectations blown you off course? Are you in dire need of an anchor to keep you steady in these days of testing? Have you forgotten that your soul is thirsty for so much more than anything you could ever hope to find in this world, yes, even if you were to sail the seven seas seven times over?

Listen to the heart-cry of someone who is keenly aware of their thirst:

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? (Psalm 42:1-2, NLT).

We learn from God's word that we are thirsty people who thirst for the source of life. We are longing and looking for, not an elusive or perishable fountain of youth, but the fountain of truth—the eternal spring of living water sent from heaven above (Jn. 4:13-14; cf. Ps. 87:7). Nothing and no one else will satisfy.

If you are experiencing deep disappointment and disillusionment right now, then please take note. If you are angry and bitter toward another brother or sister, a pastor or church leader for letting you down, then please understand that there is a better way forward.

Listen to these wise words from a well-traveled Christian counselor who has encountered many hurting and thirsty people along the way:

...when we acknowledge the deep ache in our soul which would not be there had our parents loved us perfectly, we begin to see how thirsty we are for what no one has provided. We can recognize our demanding dependence on people, our sinful insistence that others do for us what they cannot do (a form of idolatry). When we learn to accept people who disappoint us by no longer requiring them to satisfy us, then we're free to love them, to reach toward them for their sake without having to protect ourselves from feeling disappointed by their response to us (Dr. Larry Crabb, Inside Out, pg. 117).

At the end of the day and when all is said and done, there is no one else to blame but ourselves if we choose to ignore the truth about our thirst and the foolish ways we have searched for healing and wholeness apart from God.

And since we are all human, none of us are immune to the error of self-protective schemes. We've all developed some form of defense mechanism to protect ourselves from guaranteed pain, rejection, and confusion in life, but there are some reading this today who know better. Your manufactured safeguards aren't working for you anymore, and deep down you know it.

Listen again to a few words of wisdom:

Feeling our disappointment puts us in touch with a part of our soul that longs for much more than anyone in this life will ever provide. As we ache over the reality of wanting what we do not have, we can begin to understand Paul's eager anticipation of the Lord Jesus' return (cf. Rom. 8:15-25). Keenly felt disappointment in the present supplies the energy for passionate hope for the future (Ibid., 118).

You see, nothing strange about longing for the Lord's return. It's not weird or kooky or fringe. Sadly, it is abnormal and strange to see a Christian who doesn't long for Christ. When the talk turns to the end-times (ahem, the times that we're living in now), well it always seems like these folks have something more important to do and someplace better to be.

But what could be more important than your relationship to God, and what place could possibly be better than the courts of heaven (Ps. 84:10)?

No sense in pretending or remaining in denial: We want the pain in our hearts to be relieved and God's promises to be fulfilled. Ain't nothing wrong with acknowledging the ache in our soul that won't be fully healed until we see Jesus face to face. It's okay to hurt. It's okay to groan (something very different from grumbling and complaining, by the way—Php. 2:14).

But then again, someone might chime in, "Moaning and groaning doesn't sound very Christian...you know, the blessed life." My response: Are you holier than the Holy Spirit? Are you too good for groaning? You might want to rethink your approach to trials, setbacks, and failures (see Romans 8:26).

In short, if we're honest with ourselves, then we'll acknowledge the deep disappointment in our hearts, humble ourselves, and cast our cares upon our Almighty Father (1 Pet. 5:6-7). When no one else understands, He does. When no one else is available, He is. When the pain becomes unbearable and you're tired of faking it, He still cares and has provided a Mediator to lift your burden and take on the weight (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16).

And even though the body of Christ can help carry your burdens and stand shoulder to shoulder with you from time to time, each one of us will still have our own load to bear (Gal. 6:5). But don't let that discourage you—we should always press on and refuse to give up (Gal. 6:9). Furthermore, among the body there are those whom you share a kindred interest: such as a love for studying prophecy and searching out the deep things of God. However, there are some things that you can't share, because they are too deep for words—both pain and joy inexpressible:

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy (Proverbs 14:10, NIV).

 Another wise man agrees and testifies elsewhere:

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11, ESV).

Since the LORD alone is the only One who knows us more than we know ourselves (1 Kgs. 8:39), isn't it better to allow the Word of God to dismantle our foolish thoughts and ideas now, rather than suffer a great loss later, at the time when "all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account" (Heb. 4:13)?

Yes, an honest look inside is the best way forward. Today is the day when someone can experience a breakthrough by breaking down a stronghold in their life (2 Cor. 6:1-2; 10:3-5). When our way isn't working for us anymore, it's time to ask the LORD to expose our faulty thinking and lead us in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

In closing, I want to encourage those who are struggling to endure. For those of you who aren't sure if you can make it one more day, let me tell you what the Spirit of God spoke into the heart of a fellow brother and traveler. I'll call him Nelson to protect his identity.

Nelson and I talk infrequently, probably about three to four times a year. He lives in poverty and has struggled with a mental illness all of his adult life. From the standpoint of worldly success and accomplishment, he doesn't have much to brag about. However, he does know the Lord, and I have undeniably witnessed the Spirit confirm things to him over and over. In other words, I have no doubt that he is my brother in Christ, occasional paranoia and delusional thoughts, notwithstanding.

A few days ago Nelson called me. He wasn't doing well, and I could tell by his voice that he was anxious and afraid. He told me that he didn't think he could go on another day. Apparently, this was one of those bad days when the pernicious thoughts of self-harm were overwhelming his senses and strength.

After listening for a while and letting him express his concerns, I asked Nelson to tell me what he knows about the Lord. I read a few passages of Scripture and suspected that he might counter with another anxious thought or rebuttal.

To my surprise and with a sudden change of tone, Nelson said to me boldly, "You know what, I didn't swim across an ocean only to drown in a puddle right now." 

Then came those familiar chill bumps. I knew the Holy Spirit had just downloaded this piece of wisdom and brilliance into his soul, and we were both blessed and encouraged by what the Lord did in his heart at that moment.

Fellow traveler, be encouraged. God only knows what you're really going through right now. Keep going, and don't judge yourself by the standards of men. For it is written:

Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV).

We long for your return, Lord Jesus.

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