Simply the Bible Blog

“He leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23.2b)

As I write, I hear the tapping of raindrops on the roof of our RV. Last October Cindy and I moved to the 15 acres where we soon hope to build our church. While dry camping has brought new chores, there is a simplicity of life that has made it all worthwhile. Moving here was not one of my harebrained schemes. Both Cindy and I really felt the Spirit drawing us. He even prepared our hearts on a backpacking trip a few years ago with a desire to simplify.

There is more to life than constant pursuit. Whatever you may be pursuing (love, career, money, food, home, security, religion, friendships, fitness, success, stuff, pleasure), there is an empty place in the heart that these things cannot fill. As Jesus said to a woman long ago:

“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again…” (John 4.13)

We have been designed with a God-shaped hole, and until that hole is filled, we will never be whole.

Our Shepherd knows this. He leads us to places that the merry-go-round of this world can never take us. He leads us beside still waters. He causes us to drink from waters of life.

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4.14)

Have you come to these waters? The path we each take is different, but the water is the same. Only this water can quench our thirst. It is Divine filling. It is rest for the weary and comfort for those who mourn. It is the healing fountain of life everlasting.

Indeed, our Shepherd knows what we need…

“If you knew the gift of God…you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4.10)