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The Thirst is Real


14Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!” John 4:14-15
With all the advertisements of the newest clothes, shoes, homes, gadgets and “reality TV” relationships, many aspire to be what they see paraded in front of them. These visions of grandeur cause us to look at our lives and strive to get the things mentioned in our own way. Once we have obtained the things that society deems important, we look at it and measure it again what others have. This measurement will either give us a false sense of superiority or inferiority, depending on who we compare ourselves to.
Some of the things we do include, looking in the mirror and comparing ourselves to others and what they can do. We can either put ourselves on a pedestal because we think we are better or we can place ourselves in the position of a footstool and think we are not enough. Singles say “ if only I were married, things would be better. Wives say if only he would listen to what I tell him to do, while husbands say if only she would stop nagging me things would be so much better. If only I could get that promotion or that raise I can live like others live. If my kids were like the Cosby kids…..The children and adolescents of society then model after the thirst of the adults saying “if only I were skinner, had a more shapely body, had the latest everything then I would be more popular. If I got better grades my parents would treat me differently”.
All this longing, searching, needing and measuring equate to the thirst. Today the thirst has become so main stream that it seems normal. Media narrows down “the thirst” to women who are scantily clad in little to nothing or men who do anything to draw attention to them by being “different”. Being different is not determined by what you wear, but how you carry yourself and live out your life.
Today it seems normal to attach ourselves to things, accomplishments, people and the actions of those people. Telling ourselves “this is the only way I will be happy and whole”. Society as a whole is thirsty and constantly going to the well to draw water (things, accomplishments, people, etc.). While those man made wells may provide a few drops to quench our immediate thirst, the living water of God makes sure we thirst no more. This woman who came to the well came looking for something to quench her thirst for a moment, but this only lasted until it was time to come back and draw again. If you read further she was on her 5th “husband” trying to draw from him and possibly him draw from her as well. We seek comfort in what we can see or get our hands on now, because we cannot imagine something greater from God.
God longs for our relationship, dependence and thirst to be for Him. So much so that He will sit and wait for you. Jesus waited for the woman at the well for 6 hours! This is something that you cannot find in most people.  I can speak from experience; with the exception of my parents when people put me on hold I HANG UP after about 20 seconds…..(He’s still working on me, lol). God is thirsty for us to thirst after Him.
The scariest question with a large subset that we have to ask ourselves is  “what am I thirsty for”? Am I so thirsty for acceptance that I will be involved in things that I truly am not interested in? Am I so thirsty for relationship that I will settle for what I know God’s word says is not best for me? Am I so thirsty that I will seek to satisfy only my needs, not caring about how it will affect others? Am I so thirsty for my finances to flourish that I put together schemes and scams to get more money? Am I so thirsty for recognition that I go around bashing others and never acknowledge what others bring to the table? The list can go on forever, but these are questions that we all must ask ourselves. The answers help us to get a clear perspective on what’s important in our lives.
So I leave you with this advice (that I too heed) seek God to quench your thirst and needs. Your dependence on Him fills in the gaps where we expect people, accomplishments and things to fill. It may not be easy in the beginning to give up your expectations and dependencies; but God WILL give you the water that allows you to thirst no more.
 
Are you thirsting after society’s water that quenches your thirst momentarily; or the water from God that allows you to thirst no more?
 
R.T. ~The light that shines through~
© 2013, Robin I. Taylor. All rights reserved. Originally published at
http://radianttransparency.blogspot.com
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