The THIRST Trap
Drop IT!
Part One
Have you ever been so thirsty that you reach for juice, soda or milk only to still be thirsty? I know I have! However, it’s not until you drink some good ole plain water that your thirst is quenched and you finally feel satisfied.
Just as water quenches our physical thirst ONLY the living water will quench our spiritual thirst. Our physical man needs water often to stay refreshed and hydrated; however, Jesus will be a constant and continual source of water within us…no replenishing needed. It is WITHIN you! (John 4:13-14)
Everyone has a longing on the inside…a God shaped void that ONLY HE can fill. We search and try to fill it in various ways but the emptiness still remains and we become trapped by the very thing we think will fill us. We look for in others what we should already possess within ourselves…acceptance, love, validation and worth. Hence the trap! While there is absolutely nothing wrong with having and enjoying these things (friendships, marriage, family, careers, business ventures, wealth and material possessions), they will never replace the relationship that God desires to have with us!
In John 4: 15, the Samaritan woman at the well asked Jesus for water that would quench her thirst once and for all which signifies that she knew her internal void was deeper than anything physical. The well actually magnified the thirst within her and represented a temporary fix for a problem that would not go away. It was a place that she came often and the only thing that was getting filled was the water pot. She came empty and left empty.
On her trips to the well…she had time to think about how empty her life was, how she kept choosing others over herself, how she’s now with man #6 but still empty, still searching, unfulfilled, frustrated and miserable. It would be safe to say that she had no clue who she was apart from a man, unaware of her worth and not able to quite pinpoint why she kept finding herself in the same situation, different relationships but yet the same void.
It’s clear that she wanted her life to look different, be different and finally realize WHO she was. She was tired of the familiar, finding her identity in men, failed relationships and predictable outcomes.
By telling Jesus, I don’t want to have to keep coming back here to draw water…she was not speaking of a liquid, rather she was referring to the patterns of behavior that kept her in a thirsty state…man after man, heartbreak after heartbreak, disappointment after disappointment. She didn’t have a clue how to fix it or even where to start. However, ONE encounter with Jesus would completely transform her life! It only takes ONE!
Jesus knew her whole life’s story but not once did he condemn or interrogate her about WHY she had 5 husbands and now was with man #6. At this point that was irrelevant, as it was clear that a husband or boyfriend could not fill the depth of her void. I too am grateful that God never condemned me but always extended his mercy and unfailing love…no matter how many times I attempted to do life without him!
Just like the woman at the well, our desperation for A man will change when we fully surrender to THE man… JESUS! The LIVING WATER…. thirsty no more!
Please come back for next month’s blog…The Thirst Trap Part 2 where I will share ways that we attempt to fill our own voids and how drop them once and for all!
See ya next month…you don’t want to miss it!
Please feel free to leave a comment if this blog resonates with you…I would love to hear your thoughts!
You are celebrated and appreciated my fellow Party of ONE!
God’s best always,
Leslie
4 Comments
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Hi Denice,
Thanks so much for sharing your heart. You are not alone for I too have lived from a place of brokenness and made life altering decisions from that place. Although I accepted Christ as teenager, I lived most of my adult life without his input or guidance, hence making a lot of poor choices that led me to some places and relationships that almost destroyed me. I know what fresh wounds feel like….the pain is so intense and there is no relief in sight. But I also know what fully giving all of my brokenness to Jesus and allowing him to heal my heart feels like. It’s indescribable!
Healing is a process, it takes time, be patient and kind to yourself. You know better now…take the lessons that these experiences gave you and GROW forward. I can assure you that there is life, love, happiness, peace and so many blessings on the other side of all that you are going through. You are in the best hands, GOD’s hands, let him rebuild and restore you. His embrace is like none other…I encourage you to rest there as you heal. I am truly praying for you….it will ALL work together for your good! His promise! Just you wait and see! 🙂
I celebrate the brilliant and beautiful you!! Thanks again for sharing! 🙂
Leslie
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I just wanted to thank you for this ministry it is very needed an such an encouragement to so many women such as myself. I haven’t truly had time to come on here and read everything until today. This was such an encouragement and I look forward to reading some of your new blogs and I took notes as I was reading because this is such a reminder to me not to be a people please. I have a family member that is very close to me and has hurt me and betrayed me. I was reading some of the things you wrote about and its helped me. I have forgiven her but sometimes it’s so easy for me to let her back into my life even though she has done wrong to me. This has been going on for many years and I need to just learn to leave the situation alone. Every time I tried to encourage her and show her love she takes advantage of me. And there has been times where I felt like maybe I was not being a good Christian just because I decided not to have anything else to do with her but I felt like right now that is the best thing to do because I keep getting hurt over and over again.
I most certainly do appreciate this ministry! It is so uplifting
God bless you Sister
Erica Love-
Thanks so much Erica for sharing your heart. I totally understand and have been in that situation quite a few times myself. The thing that I have learned is that God does not expect us to tolerate or accept toxic behavior from anyone…family included. If a person has hurt you and continues to do the same thing over and over again and there is no apology and changed behavior, then it is very clear that this person belongs in your prayers but not in your life. Their issue is deeper than you anyway and you don’t have to keep accepting what you don’t deserve. By distancing yourself, you are setting a boundary and that is totally ok to do so. Unfortunately, you have to love some people from a distance in order to protect your peace. Never allow someone to guilt trip you or make you question your walk with God. As long as you have forgiven this person and genuinely love them….move on and enjoy your life. Prayerfully they will see how their mistreatment of you has impacted the relationship and there will be restoration. Either way, keep protecting your peace, keep your joy and walk in the abundance that God has for you!!
I truly appreciate YOU and your support!! Keep shining bright! 🙂
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It’s been a long journey of living with Anxiety feeling worthless and thinking I can’t make it on my own which by the way had nothing to do with my finances. It was more about who would love me, support me, be by my side. Yes I know Jesus will. My eyes was wide Shut when it came to my husband but more importantly when it came to Jesus. Yes Jesus was there but I never called on him. I kept trying on my own to fix my marriage. It was impossible, for one I was trying without the help of my husband who had no interest in doing so and most of all I didn’t include God. My wounds are fresh like an open sore with salt on it. I’m trying not to have a hard heart so from here I solicit prayers from anyone who reads this. Thank you.