Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” – John 4:10
The church van isn’t the most comfortable ride to say the least. Combined with one of the bumpiest roads in the area, our ride to a leadership conference started off rough. The person next to me sat tensely upright, wincing with each bump. As I slowly sipped my water, I considered the benefits of water in various situations.
When I hike, I consistently sip water. My body is mainly composed of water, and I need to replenish the liquid I’m using as I exert energy. When I travel to higher altitudes, the water compensates for some of the additional oxygen I need to comfortably breathe and move around.
As I travel a bumpy road, I can benefit from my body being composed of so much water. Water is an excellent shock absorber, and as I relax, allowing my body to naturally absorb chock, I feel less jarred and rattled.
When I go through rough patches in my life, I can experience them as rougher than they actually are. If I choose to focus on the roughness and struggle against it, I tense my body so that I feel every slight bump, and I end up bruised and sore. As I travel across the bumps, God knows just where I am and the intensity of the bumps. He’s given me what I need to absorb some of the shock. When I relax in how he’s created and equipped me instead of trying to take control, my journey feels smoother. The road is still rough, but I experience it differently.
When I acknowledge and trust God with the details of my life, I experience situations with hope. I may still get bruised along the way, but I trust God to provide healing. I might be surprised by a hole or bump in the road, but I trust God to absorb the shock and guide me to a smooth path for respite. I trust that as I grow in my relationship with Jesus, he will quench my thirst, nourish my needs, and help me breathe a bit more easily.
Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day. Sip regularly, and as you drink, thank God for the hope and eternal nourishment Jesus provides.