John 7:37-38
“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’”John 3:34
“For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”
tl;dr
Temporary comforts always leave emptiness behind, but Jesus fills the soul with lasting peace and living water from within.
Yesterday I witnessed a friend of mine secretly drawing comfort from doughnuts, cigarettes, and a Monster drink. She is also in recovery. Watching her made me reflect on my own addictive tendencies. When I am caught in compulsive behaviors, I often become secretive too. Addiction thrives in hidden places.
Sometimes I try to justify seeking comfort in overeating by doing it openly. I may sit down with a huge bag of corn chips and convince myself it is harmless. But whenever I seek internal peace from something other than Jesus, I end up even emptier afterward.
I enjoy a good workout or a big bowl of DQ, but if I depend on those things for comfort, the relief fades quickly and the neediness returns. Earthly comforts never fully satisfy the deeper thirst of the soul.
When I seek Jesus first—His peace, His love, and His comfort—I experience something completely different. His presence brings streams of living water that truly quench thirst from within. He gives peace in the middle of storms instead of temporary escape from them.
For me to consistently experience His peace, I have to consistently turn toward Him to fill me up. If I notice myself becoming compulsive, restless, or addictive in my behaviors, I try to STOP and look up instead of further down into the craving.
Jesus alone fills the empty places in a lasting way.
May His Spirit fill hearts today and always.
That gives true meaning to the phrase, “Be filled!”
#LivingWater #RecoveryInChrist #FaithAndHealing #FilledByGod #John7 #HolyHealthyHappy