What Are You Thirsty For?

This past weekend I participated in Hope Run Kenosha. This is a 5K run/2 mile walk to raise funds to advance awareness concerning human trafficking right here in our area. (I walked.) Before the walk began, I took a drink from my water bottle and handed it to my husband. Throughout the walk I chatted with a friend while hundreds of us followed that 2 mile path. Near the end of the course there was a station set up and volunteers handing out water bottles to each of us as we finished our walk. The cool, refreshing water was extremely pleasant. At other times I may enjoy a cup of coffee or herbal tea. But after this walk, pure water was what I craved.

The day following the event, I had a conversation with a gentleman named Marcus who is totally at home in front of an audience. He has a smile that is infectious and joy and love seem to radiate from him as he talks, sings and entertains. This same demeanor has been present whenever I have seen him. Whether in a personal conversation, singing in the choir or speaking to a group, his manner remains constant.

A statement that he made during this conversation really stood out to me. He stated that he is always thirsty for joy. He elaborated by staying that like an addict he craves joy. Here this man that exudes joy with his every action actually craves it.

 Do we crave joy in our everyday life? Do we share the desire of the psalmists? “As the heart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You O God. My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?” (Psalm 42:1-2 AMP) These words were written by the sons of Korah. These men served the Lord in the Temple and knew Him intimately. They gladly found their source of joy in God’s service and wrote, “The singers as well as the players on instruments shall say, All my springs (my sources of life and joy) are in you [city of our God].”  (Psalm 87:7 AMP)

 The Christian walk is compared to running a race. “… and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1b AMP) When athletes are thirsty, strength can drain from their bodies. A much-needed drink can restore strength and the ability to continue on. In this walk of faith the depletion of joy can also sap our strength. But a drink of that joy will restore us and enable us to continue on the path God has chosen for us. “…And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.” (Nehemiah 8:10b AMP)  With this strength we are revived and continue on God’s path for us.

 Like Marcus, we can receive that strength and pass it on to others. In his letter to the churches, the apostle John expressed his excitement at sharing what he had already received from and experienced with Jesus. “What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete].” (1 John 1:3-4 AMP) He not only knew joy but found increased joy by spreading it to others.

Jesus is the source of all true joy and He is always ready to share it with us. He told a woman at the well in Samaria, “But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.” (John 4:14 AMP) As we stay connected with Jesus by constant dependence on Him, our source of joy will never run dry. We will not only have all that we need to stay healthy and strong, but we will have plenty to give out to those around us.

 Be truly thirsty and take a good long drink from the true fountain of joy. You will not only be strengthened yourself but bring joy and strength to those you encounter.