Other than the presidential race, the most enduring news
from the summer is the drought impacting much of the nation. High temperature records are being broken
nearly every day. Rain is scarce and
when it comes, it’s usually accompanied by damaging winds and lightning. Corn and soybean crops are withering away,
which will soon affect prices at the grocery store. Rationing on the use of water is likely just
around the corner.
All of this got me to thinking about a drought of a
different kind – a drought of faith. When
folks don’t have Christ in their lives – or if He has been pushed aside by the
demands and sufferings that come with living in the world – then a drought
ensues. Just like with the physical
drought our nation is experiencing now, it is possible to function in the midst
of a faith drought. One can continue to
work and engage in daily activities, but there’s something missing and although
it’s hard to pinpoint, it’s tangible – a spark, a sense of purpose, a feeling of
direction, of genuineness, of acceptance, or of love. The absence of these things does not prevent
one from getting through the day, but the weight of that absence makes it more difficult
and far less joyful. The longer the
drought, the more difficult it becomes.
If you recall, 2011 was an especially wet year for this part
of the country – the annual rainfall total was well above normal. We were thankful for the water we needed and we
did our best to deal with the excess and the gloomy skies. This year, we are baked and arid, the mere
sight of a cloudy sky filling us with hope.
Generations of humanity have dealt with the cyclical changes of
Creation. But whether it’s a time of
feast or famine, in nature or in our souls, there is a well-spring of Life at
the ready. He is always waiting to fill
us up when we are empty, and He gives us the desire to water the souls of those
around us when our cups run over. All we
need is to trust the endurance of the source.
No matter what season we may be in, if we trust in Jesus
with all that we have, rivers of living water will flow from within us, nourishing ourselves and those around us – at exactly
the right time, in exactly the right amount. It will flow from within us because that is
where the Spirit of the Living God resides – and only good can flow from God’s
dwelling place.
