Thirsty

Thirsty

It had been a long, hard, hot week for my friend, Lisa. One trouble after another had bubbled to the surface. Difficult problems to be solved, irritable people to be dealt with and an accumulated lack of sleep, had brought the week to an exhausting close. Soaking up the glory of a crimson sunset, Lisa inhaled slowly and visibly relaxed. It was now the Sabbath. Half murmured thoughts surfaced in her mind of a deep desire to enjoy the presence of God this holy Sabbath day. She was tired, more than tired and she craved worship. 

Lisa woke and stretched slowly, easing her limbs gently from their sleeping position as the familiar ache of rheumatoid arthritis  brought her fully awake. It was late. She had overslept. A deep longing for quiet time with God filled her soul as she carefully made her way to the shower. Time was a premium and she brushed her soul-filled hunger aside with wisps of hair and plunged into preparing for church. Arriving late at the already filled car park, she hastily parked at the far end and made her way to the house of the Lord. Lisa silently slipped into a comfortable back pew but the thirst for God grew greater. How she longed for God deep within. Her week had been so hectic that she felt disconnected, as if she had run far ahead of the Lord. “Are you there for me, Father, “ she quietly prayed, “I so long for you, to be near to you.” Her disjointed thoughts tumbled between the troubles of the week, her aching heart for God and the service currently in progress. 

The programme ended and Lisa slid slowly out of her seat and made her way thoughtfully across the car park. She was thirsty, very thirsty. The heat of the sun beat down on her relentlessly as she made her way back to the car. In her hurry that morning she had left her water bottle at home. Now she felt parched in body and spirit. Discouraged, Lisa started to drive away from the church. She chose the long route home, past houses framed with bright green lawns, flowering garden beds and shady trees. Startled, she saw a sign  by the road and pulled quickly to a stop. In bold black letters the sign read, “Free plums.” The large plum tree with rich green foliage was laden with ripe, deep purple plums, just ready to be picked. In joy Lisa picked one soft plum, then another and still another. Going to her car she retrieved an old, small plastic shopping bag and excitedly continued to pick plum after plum. The delight of the shade and the beauty of the gardens and lawn refreshed her spirits. With eagerness she took a bite of the sweet, juicy plum. Trickles of red juice squirted into her mouth and quenched her thirst. God came near and spoke into her heart words of comfort. “I have never left you nor forsaken you, Lisa. I am here for you.” She reached for another plum, satisfying her physical thirst even more. The peacefulness of the scene brought rest to her troubled mind. God’s presence was so near and His words so comforting, her thirsty soul for Him was filled. Her heart filled with thankfulness towards God for the gift of the plums and for the refreshment of body and spirit she received in those few brief minutes standing under a leafy tree relishing the sweetness of succulent plums. That moment and those plums were her gift from God. Tears welled up and threatened to spill over as her heart felt warmed by God’s thoughtfulness care and tender love for her. 

We have all experienced harried and frazzling weeks of problems, exhaustion and less time spent with God. Those moments of craving for God’s quietness and presence as expressed by the psalmist in Ps 42:1, 2 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” In the stillness of the moment God calls to my soul and I hear His voice  saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:38). I eagerly drink and again hear His words, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” ( Isa 12:3) I smile and I experience Psalm 116:7 “Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”