Surviving, but…Thirsty

On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (John 7:37-38, TLB)

The celebration of Christmas and the New Year has passed, and we're all settling back into work, school, and the routines of daily life. As we reconnect, the common question arises: "How were your holidays?" and most of us respond with some variation of "exhilarating" or "exhausting"—or perhaps a bit of both. The whirlwind of the season—whether filled with joy or exhaustion—often leaves us feeling parched and longing for renewal. 

Now that we are back at it, we’re surviving, but…thirsty. 

Thirst is a signal, a reminder that the body needs water. When that need goes unmet, the consequences can be serious. The same is true for trees. When trees lack water, they can survive for a time, but they become vulnerable to the devastating effects of killer beetles. Beetles thrive on trees that are not adequately watered. When a tree is well-watered, it produces an abundance of sap—so much that if a beetle attempts to bore into it, the sap overwhelms and drowns the beetle. The tree’s health and protection come from its access to water. Without enough water, the tree may survive for a time, but it becomes vulnerable to attack, illness, and eventual death.

This simple truth mirrors our spiritual lives: without the living water from Jesus, we may survive for a time, but we become vulnerable to the Enemy's schemes and eventually, spiritual decay. The Enemy preys on those who aren’t filled with the life-giving water of the Spirit. But when we are well-watered by the Spirit, Jesus produces abundant life in us—so much that when the Enemy attempts to attack, he is overwhelmed and driven out. Our strength and protection come from our access to the living water of Jesus. 

Jesus invites us to come to Him for this life-giving water:

Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink… (Isaiah 55:1, NLT)

Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. (John 4:14, NLT)

Jesus offers us the water of life to quench our thirst and empower us to thrive. Are you thirsting today? Come to the source. Let Jesus, the Living Water, fill you until you overflow, ensuring that you not only survive, but flourish.