During these days of working outside in 90+ degree temperatures, I have experienced extreme exhaustion, the kind of fatigue that sitting for a while doesn’t relieve. Only re-hydrating refreshes, renews, and reignites.
Today, when everything is different, uncertain, turbulent, and confusing, there are times when I feel parched mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Following are insights, drawn from water, on how we can refuel and reignite forward motion despite our circumstances:
Sustain
In the last days of my mother’s life, she stopped eating and drinking. Numerous times each day, I held a straw to her mouth and encouraged her to drink, but she clamped her lips tightly and turned away. Life-sustaining water and nourishment were available, yet she refused to accept them.
Although many pride themselves on being self-sufficient, we all need sources of sustenance unrelated to physical nourishment. We thrive when we have those in our lives who speak wisdom and help us gain perspective when ours is skewed. We advance mentally and creatively through interaction with others, personal learning and reflection, and the discovery of sources of joy and inspiration. Spiritual nourishment balances our lives and sustains our souls.
Grow
It only takes a few hours of intense heat and direct sunlight for plants to wilt and wither. After watering, you can see leaves and flowers slowly lift and revive. The same growth-producing qualities of water occur when we challenge ourselves mentally.
The changes prompted by COVID-19 required learning new ways to do our jobs and handle the practical aspects of everyday life. Many were forced to learn in the area of technology in order to continue doing jobs, interact with others, and learn.
A willingness to grow, to stretch beyond what is easy and familiar, propels us forward and prevents disconnection. While growth requires determination, the effort brings big rewards.
Clean and Refresh
On a hot day, water is the best thirst-quenching source, and after working hard in the heat, a cleansing shower relaxes and refreshes.
Perhaps there are areas in your life that could benefit from cleansing. Do you need to come clean about hidden vices that require falsehoods to keep them under wraps? Are you lying to yourself about how your actions effect those around you or the detrimental impact of your lifestyle on your health?
As I have cleaned areas in my childhood home in preparation for selling it, I’ve been reminded of deferred maintenance, things that are easy to delay attending to because they don’t seem to be urgent enough to warrant the time necessary to repair or replace. But little things add up, and suddenly, you are faced with a task that seems insurmountable.
Attending to areas in our lives now that need to be cleaned or refreshed lessens the stress of facing and tackling a task of much bigger proportions later.
Power Through
Long ago, humans learned to capture and use the motion of rushing, falling water to power devices to aid in everyday life, and eventually, to generate hydro-electric power to light cities and heat homes. But if we are wise, we respect the power of water. Currents in rivers and the ocean can be greater than our own physical strength. Flooding from heavy rains, tornadoes, or hurricanes can produce massive destruction so we need to be aware of the power and force of water.
The prophet Isaiah equated life difficulties to deep water. If you feel you are in over your head, exhausted and barely able to continue treading water because of job loss, financial hardship, a medical diagnosis, a death, divorce, or the uncertainties of a global pandemic, remember, God is available, a source of rescue. And there are those who are willing to be “God with skin on” to you, providing encouragement and support to enable you to power through deep waters and strong currents to safely reach shore.
Discover Peace
For many years, I have experienced peace in the pool, or beside the pool, at my childhood home. The beach brings that same sense of calmness and rest. Being in water and looking at water provide a feeling of relaxation. We sleep better after a day of swimming or when listening to the rain drum on the roof. God provides a special sense of relaxation through the feel, sound, and sight of water.
Finding peace in the current climate of our world is challenging. Media reports, protests, virus test results, uncertainty about the future, all combine to keep us in turmoil. Like me, do you long for peace?
The beauty of nature calms and soothes. Adding communion with Creator God to time spent in nature enhances calmness and brings peace. The One who divided water, created the universe, and sustains our world, hovers over us, sees our struggles, and knows our needs. He is peace.
Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38 AMP
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is a writer, blogger, speaker, and freelance editor. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving beyond difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotionals published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House) and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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