There’s very few things I like more than a fresh cup of coffee. I love coffee in all different ways: hot, black, with cream, lattes, iced coffee, americanos, etc. (you get it, I really like coffee). That first sip especially…can’t beat it.
Coffee doesn’t, however, satisfy a craving or deep longing I have in my heart and soul. It’s a simple thing that satisfies my desire for a delicious caffeine fix, but it’s not a guaranteed, fulfilling satisfaction that I can depend on (trust me, I’ve had some pretty terrible cups of coffee in my life). There’s a deeper thirst and a hunger that no man-made or physical thing can truly satisfy, and it can only be truly fulfilled by one thing. Or, rather, One being.
The One satisfaction that’s truly guaranteed, always, is a relationship and connection with the Lord. He will fully quench our thirst for more and completely stave off any “hunger” pains we experience. Our satisfaction and contentment in Him, are always guaranteed.
Feeling Parched?
Even though I’ve been following God for over 20 years, I can tell you that I experience “thirst” from time to time. I have a relationship with the Lord, but ashamedly I allow myself at times to disconnect and draw away from Him. This always leads to me feeling parched and thirsty for more.
The world, and satan himself, will do a really good job of leading us down paths where we pull away from God. These aren’t always reckless or “bad” paths, but they’re moments that make us feel in control of our own lives and give us a sense of pride and control. The more we choose our own paths and decide what’s best for ourselves, instead of letting God direct us, we come up empty-handed and feeling “dry.”
If you’re going through the motions of your day-to-day life and working really hard to convince yourself that your life is “good” and you have what you “need,” then you’re only hurting yourself. Don’t mistake that “parched,” empty feeling for a temporary discomfort or seasonal change. It’s a need and thirst for God and His almighty strength, and it runs deeper than almost anything else.
“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. -Psalm 42:1-2a
Running On Empty
Even as followers, we have seasons of drought. Our faith seems stale and dry at times, and we search in the wrong places for fulfillment and contentment. This only leaves us running on empty, over and over again.
The times when we thirst and hunger for more, we are pulling ourselves further away from God. The less time we spend with God and in His Word, the more we continue to feel empty inside. We turn to people, social experiences, entertainment and other worldly things to bring us joy, but those will only bring a very temporary enjoyment. This means we continually turn to those things over and over again, because the joy never lasts.
We have to stop running our lives on empty, and pretending we’re ok. There’s a very real hole and void in our lives when we stop looking to God for our satisfaction and contentment. If we truly want to fill ourselves up and feel fulfilled, we need to turn to God and Him alone. His Word will give us the truth our hearts and minds need, and will guide us where we need to be.
“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.” -John 4:14
Filling Up the Tank
It’s important to stop and fill up our “tanks” from time to time. If we feel the emptiness start to creep in, then we know we’re lacking the fullness that only comes from being in close relationship with Him.
So, how do we fill ourselves up, or back up, to feel once again fulfilled (or, maybe truly fulfilled for the first time)?
The first thing we should always do when we’re running on low, is turn to God in prayer. Prayer truly does change things and it re-centers and re-focuses our minds on Him. We can and should call out to Him and ask Him to lead us back. We can be completely vulnerable with God, and prayer is an opportunity to speak to Him and really pour out our struggles and thankfulness as well. The Lord cares deeply about each of us and wants us to feel safe and comfortable coming to Him with anything that’s on our hearts.
The next thing we can do to fill up our “tanks” is simply opening His Word and meditating on His truth. God’s Word is encouraging, convicting, comforting and so much more. Literally anything we’re feeling, struggling with, or need clarity on, we can find the answers and hope we need across the pages (or screens) of our Bible. It’s not just a book or app on our phone; God’s Word is living and active and God will speak to us through it. We just have to allow Him the opportunity to do so.
Finally, filling up our “tanks” requires action. After we pray to God and read His Word it’s important that we actually take steps to live out our faith. It’s not enough to say you love and believe in God, you should also be practicing the faith you claim. His presence and His truth should motivate and equip us to make positive changes and guide us to make steps in the direction we should go.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” -Matthew 5:6
Continually Thirsting
When you think of something you really love, like coffee in my case, you realize that you’re always “thirsting” for more of it. It’s hard to ever get enough of what we’re really drawn to, and we continually come back for more.
This is what I desire and aspire to feel about God, and hopefully you do too.
I’ve found it true in my life that when I’m really taking time to connect and draw close to God, I desire to truly know Him and feel His presence more. The more I study His Word, the more I get from it and the more I want to come back for more.
I think in order to be content and keep ourselves positively “thirsting” for more, we simply have to stay in relationship with Him. The Lord will satisfy our needs (100% guaranteed) and give us strength and encouragement. All we must do in return is love Him and abide in His presence daily.
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rives of living water will flow from within them.” -John 7:37b-38
Truly Satisfied
You know the commercials and advertisements that claim your satisfaction will be guaranteed? We’ve all seen them and heard it before, but we’ve probably all been let down by those false promises.
I’ve believed in silly material objects and ideas and somehow have believed they would truly bring me satisfaction. Only to then be disappointed by the lie of it. You see, nothing will ever truly satisfy us the way God can.
If you want to experience true and lasting satisfaction and contentment, stop looking to the world to give it to you. The thirst and hunger you experience can only be fulfilled by close proximity to our heavenly Father.
The Lord will provide joy, even in times of sorrow. He will give peace, even in seasons of doubt. He’ll hand you love, grace and kindness, even when you can’t give those things to yourself. He will always give you exactly what you need, when you need it.
When you hunger, thirst and feel a dryness that’s undeniable, simply turn to Him. Pray out to Him, trust His Word, mediate on His goodness and allow yourself to drink deeply from His endless well of knowledge and love. Stop running on low and fill yourselves with hope that’s actually lasting. Be satisfied in the Lord, because it’s the only place where it’s ALWAYS guaranteed.
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” -Isaiah 58:11