“Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”
Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.”
-Richard E. Blanchard, Sr.
This song has been on my mind lately. Not only does it have a catchy chorus, but the truth in each word speaks straight to my heart.
This life is tough. The fleeting happiness I feel ebbs and flows like the tides obediently foretold by the monthly phases of each new moon.
When I feel so weary by the pulls of the world, when I wonder why my marriage has lost that magical zest, when my sons barely speak to me at the end of each day, when my love tank feels empty and my resentment container is overflowing, when I feel as empty inside as the woman at the well…
It is only then that I remember:
It is not my husband’s job to maintain my happiness.
It is not my children’s role to nurture my soul.
It is not my friend’s responsibility to daily lift me up or pat my slumping shoulders with an encouraging word.
My Heavenly Father created a Jesus-sized hole in the pit of my very soul. A hole that only His son could ever hope to fill.
The things of this world: career success, public notoriety, a full and complete family, the newest, the latest, the biggest and the best, nothing on earth can fill the void like the love of my Savior.
I am thankful for the daily reminders. The starved desire for greater affection, the punchy retort from a family member that hits straight to the heart, the daily overlooking at the office, no matter what the hurt, or how great the feel of loneliness.
I am never stronger than when I feel at my weakest and sink to the floor, tear-stained face down and heart open fully to the Jesus that blankets me with his extraordinary peace. He wipes the tears and fills the void with his perfect touch full of satiating love.
“Like the woman at the well, I too, was seeking. For things that could not satisfy.….”
Thank God for not meeting all of our perceived needs. For leaving us lonely, fearful, hurt, and needing.
He proves over and over again that Jesus is the only way to satiate the deep, life-giving, soul-refreshing thirst we all feel in this life.
The only true refreshment and solid satisfaction we can hope to achieve in this world is found in the nail-scarred hands of my Lord.
His overwhelming grace and never-ending love meets me right where I am and faithfully propels me toward true happiness, in Him, alone.
