Have you ever been extremely thirsty? When we thirst we desire fluids to replenish our bodies. It seems to be an aching or burning when we simply desire a drink regardless of the type or brand, or it can be a craving if we desire a specific drink. And although it can be hard to describe with words, all of us know what it is like to thirst.
Over half of our bodies are made up of water. When we need to add water to our bodies, sensors pick up on increased salt levels in our cells and we begin to thirst.
Just as we thirst for physical water because we are made of physical water so, too, do we thirst for the Living Water because we are made in God’s image. Spiritual thirst is just as difficult to describe with human words as physical thirst and it is comparably real. However, being spiritually thirsty is not as easy to understand as being physically thirsty because many people become spiritually thirsty and never realize it.
One day, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. She was spiritually thirsty but was attempting to satisfy that thirst with sexual relations and bad relationships. As Jesus knew her heart better than she did, He offered her the Living Water. At first she was confused by His offer, possibly pondering how she would never need physical water again in her lifetime. After some conversation through which Jesus explained the true experience of His offer, she understood Him to be speaking of spiritual water, water for her soul—everlasting life.
Psalm 42 describes how many may feel at times, “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 42:1–3 NLT).
Jesus offers spiritual water to all of us. “Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!’ When he said ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him…” (John 7:37–39 NLT).
When we are physically thirsty we drink many different options, be it juice, coffee, tea, or soft drinks, of which are colored, flavored water.
When it comes to spiritual thirst we may try different options as well, all of which are sin, but nothing satisfies our spiritual thirst but God. The Samaritan woman became very excited when Jesus offered her “living water.” Eventually she accepted what Jesus was offering. He was offering Himself.
When you find yourself thirsty for something other than water, drink deeply from the living water God provides for all of us. It is the only thing that satisfies our souls.