When I was younger, whenever we would go out walking – especially up in Scotland – I would get very excited if we found some ‘happy water’. I’m not sure how the name came about, but ‘happy water’ is what we call fresh, flowing spring water. Perhaps the label of ‘happy’ is associated with the feel-good taste of the pure water or because it comes as a welcome relief after a tiring climb. Whatever the origin, I still get just as joyful when we discover ‘happy water’ on our rambles.
Water is the source of life. It is essential for our very existence. Without water there would be nothing. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the water of life. Just as we need physical water to survive, even more so do we require spiritual water, found by knowing Jesus.
“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’.”
John 7:38
Jesus brings us great joy! Although I mentioned that ‘happy water’ does lift my spirits, the relationship I found in Jesus fills me with such elation. True joy comes from filling that spiritual void within us, through knowing more of Christ. Unlike earthly joy, which is fleeting and temporary, God’s joy continues to flow through us, even during our times of suffering, because we have that assured hope in Him.
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
John 15:11
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
Likewise, as ‘happy water’ quenches my thirst, so to does Jesus, but to an even greater scale. Whilst water only satisfies for a short while, when we know Jesus, we will never be left thirsty.
“Come. Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17
But do we? How often do we fill ourselves with the Spirit? When we deprive our bodies of water, we know about it! Just in the same way, when our hearts are dehydrated we can experience symptoms such as: feeling irritable, high anxiety, bouts of guilt, overwhelming fear, hopelessness, loneliness, emptiness etc. These are all warning signs of a spiritual dryness deep within, which we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Sometimes, we do not always recognise our ‘spiritual thirst’, and instead turn to other means to fill that longing in our hearts: passions, possessions, people, power etc. Just like drinking salt water, these things only provide temporary joy, peace, and satisfaction, and they will often leave us thirstier and worse off than we were before. Jesus is the only one who can truly satisfy our thirst. He invites us to come; but it is up to us to respond, to choose to come to Him and drink.
‘Jesus replied,”Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But 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 4:13-14
Therefore, we should seek more of Christ each and every day; through spending time in prayer and meditating on His word, to develop such a deep yearning for more of Him, just as it speaks of in the following verses;
“As the deer longs for the streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.”
Psalm 42: 1-2
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
Psalm 63:1
I pray Jesus will overflow within you. That your thirst will be satisfied by knowing Him more. I pray the Holy Spirit will drench your soul in joy. May the Water of Life restore you today.
God Bless 🙂 x
STEADFAST 