Wednesday

When There's Nothing Left for You



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It was a typical morning. 

I’d washed the dishes, thrown a load of laundry into the washing machine, bathed the girls, and was preparing to step into the shower. If there’s one thing I love, it’s a long, hot shower on a cold winter morning. And hot is probably an understatement. Scalding’s more like it. There’s something about being drenched in wonderful warmth that restores my perspective and eases me into the day.

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This morning was particularly chilly, and I was really looking forward to my ten minutes of luxury. I turned the hot water faucet on high, added just the tiniest bit of cold water, and stepped in. Ahhhhhhh. Heaven!

For about three minutes.

Before I had even worked conditioner into my hair, I noticed the water getting noticeably cooler. Could there be a problem with the water heater, I wondered? The temperature had seemed fine when I filled the washing machine. And washed the dishes. And bathed the girls.

Uh, oh. 

I realized that my cleaning spree had completely exhausted the hot water supply, and there was none left over for me.

Life’s like this sometimes. The demands of marriage, motherhood, and work often use up every ounce of our time and energy, leaving nothing left over for us. Like my tepid shower robbed me of a simple indulgence, life sometimes uses up our best resources and leaves us with lukewarm leftovers.

There was a woman in Bible days who also looked to water to meet a need. She, too, found that life had used up her supply, leaving her drained and empty. Jesus met her at a well in the heat of the day.

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,” Jesus warned her as they sat by the well. He knew that nothing this world has to offer would ever completely satisfy the longings of her heart. Deep down inside, she knew it too.

 “But whoever drinks the water I give him,” he offered, “will never be thirsty again.”

“Sir,” she said to Jesus, “give me this (living) water to that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

This woman at the well realized what I did that winter day—that no amount of self-indulgence, material possessions, money, or vacations can ever truly restore our tired souls. They all fall short. It is only when we drink from God’s living water that we discover what truly satisfies.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, worn out, or shortchanged, take a few moments to read the account of Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4. 

If you feel like all you’re living on is left over and lukewarm, commit to spend some time at the well filled with living water. Sit there with Jesus, and let him restore your soul. Only then will you be truly ready to face the day.  And, unlike my shower that morning, this well will never run dry.

“Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 










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  2. I find myself in this kind of situation when I fail to study His word, pray, and have fellowship with Him.
    As mothers we think we are like the energizer bunny... we think we can keep going & going. We can...only with the Lord though.
    Thanks for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right, Piper, we try to run on our own strength without plugging into the power source. Def. a BAD idea with BAD results :)

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  4. Thankful for the well...His well...that never runs dry. Beautiful encouragement!

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  5. Wow Lori - this really spoke to me today. Thank you for such a wonderful and timely post!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This was a great post...thanks for sharing!

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  7. Found you through Mommy Moments.
    That was a really great post. I had one similar to it, I guess, a few weeks ago.. about how people are always going to fall short of our expectations, but how our expectations aren't their's to meet.

    Thanks so much for the reminder :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whitney, It reminds me of the quote by Stormie Omartian that talks about the guilt that comes with being a parent. She says there's two ways to avoid guilt. One is to die young in your child's life (oh my) and the other is to walk with God and ask him to wisdom every day. I'll take that one, for sure! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  8. Thank you so much for this beautiful post, and reminding us that our only source of hope is in Christ alone! Thank you also for linking up at Leaving A Legacy!

    Blessings~
    Shari

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post. Sometimes I think we all feel used up and need that quinch. Thanks for reminding us where to get our thirst filed.
    Wishing great Blessings on your speaking engagement.
    Have a good evening,
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  10. Living water, and hot showers! Such a good post. I love how God speaks to us through normal life. :) thank you taking the time to link this up.

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  11. I saw your cold water coming and had to smile thinking of the times that happened to me!! Sometimes I have felt like that through the years of homeschooling and as these years come to an end. Thankfully I am able to renew myself through my living tap in Jesus Christ. Resting always is renewing. Thanks for sharing this over at WholeHearted Home this week. You are always a blessing.

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