the obvious answer is yes! however, what’s not so obvious is the reason why? that is, why are we so thirsty all the time?

more than ever we live in a consumer world. we devour stuff as fast as we can. yet, we can never get enough... of anything. we devour relationships, pleasure, food, work, ministry, entertainment, accomplishments, things, and stuff as fast as we can. however, when it’s all said and done our thirst remains!

look around. we live in an unquenched world. people everywhere are driven along by a thirsting, a wanting, a needing, a longing. but, for what? why are we so hungry?

it’s as simple as this: we were created with an appetite for God. we were created for Him! God says that we are "people that I formed for myself." (isaiah 43:21). to make it personal, you were made (formed) for Him. the result …you have a panting soul. with every breath our soul longs for fellowship with God.

though we have been given the gift of many earthly things, and though they do bring a measure of satisfaction to our lives, we were made for God alone. our soul’s thirst for God is enormous... and far greater than even we comprehend.

since God is huge (and we know He is bigger than we can imagine), then it follows that we have been made with an appetite as big as He is. because God is eternal, our hunger is such that it cannot be satisfied with temporary things. that’s why we’re so hungry all the time. we have an ocean-sized cavern of need, in souls stamped with the image of God.

unfortunately for most, it’s a cavern scarcely filled by the inconsistent trickle of a thousand earthly streams. as a result, many of us exist in dry land, detached from the river of life flowing from the heart of God.

what’s amazing is that in the midst of our desert, God’s invitation stands: "every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come and buy and eat. why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? listen carefully to Me and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. listen and come to Me, respond so your soul will live." (isaiah 55:1-3).

what does it mean to come to the waters? we find the answer in verse 4:  "seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near." the problem comes when we turn a deaf ear to the invitation of God and try to siphon dry wells to satisfy our souls. big mistake! to do so is to forget that we were made for God.

He describes it this way, "My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and dug for themselves broken wells that can hold no water." (jeremiah 2:13). talk about a dead end!

there is nothing more depressing than digging for soul-sized satisfaction in a job, a boyfriend or a girlfriend. how sad to dig deeper, harder, and faster in a sorority, friends, accomplishments, pleasures, stuff, fame, lust, looks, or self, only to come up empty again. but, God is right; we do it all the time.

we have forsaken God to dig wells.

so what’s the solution? maybe we just turn that equation around! it looks like this: forsake wells – dig God.

what well are you digging in today? what are you asking to satisfy the God-sized hunger in your soul? will you turn and put your shovel deep into the heart of God? if so, rivers will again flow in the desert …springs in a dry and weary land. that’s God’s promise, not mine. He is the God who says, "draw near to Me and I will draw near to you." (james 4:8a).

but to dig a broken well is not only stupid, it is a sin. that’s why God goes on to say, "cleanse your hand you sinners and purify your hearts you who are double-minded." v.8b

we must repent. we must turn around. forsake empty wells, good or bad. we must stop asking people and things to satisfy souls made for God alone.

turn to God. reach out a weak, feeble hand. cry out for more of Him. "seek the Lord while He may be found!" for He says, "I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart." (jeremiah 24:7).

what awaits is truly extraordinary. one who found Him said, "how precious is Your love, O God! and the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. they drink their fill of the abundance of Your presence; and You let them drink from the river of Your delights. for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light." (psalm 36:7-9)

the commercial says it so well: obey your thirst.
let it drive you to God.
hungry?
let’s eat!