All my springs are in thee.
Psalms 87:7, KJV
When I was a girl living in the mountains of Kentucky, many warm sunny days were spent playing in the creek by my cousin’s house. We waded the shallow water and splashed each other until we were soaked, and spent lazy afternoons trying to scoop up minnows gliding through the clear stream. Most days, my older cousin tried hard to ignore the giggling girls playing by the waters edge, but I remember the day he took us on an adventure. We followed the stream past the house and garden, walking through tall grass and briars along the mountain. He took us all the way to the place where the clear cold water worked its way out of a rocky ledge, running over the wet stones and into the streambed. We had found the spring that fed the little creek.
A water spring may not look very powerful. The one that we found that day was small and hidden in the lush greenery of the mountainside, but it had enough of a flow that it kept the little stream supplied in the driest of seasons. It created a reliable source of moisture for the insects, frogs, and minnows that were found there. It provided a water source for the graceful deer that came at dawn for a cool drink. And yes, it even provided a place for two little girls to splash and play on warm days.
A spring is the place where groundwater pushes its way through the earth’s surface. It comes from a greater reservoir that is hidden from sight, but powerful and dynamic nonetheless. The water that flows from underground carries minerals from the soil through which it travels. The reality is that the small stream we played in was connected to large flowing waters that were deeper than we could imagine.
Forgive the science lesson, but I needed it. I needed to lay the groundwork for the psalmist to speak into my spiritual life. You see, there are times in the last few years that it has felt like I was walking on dry ground baked hard by the burning heat of adversity. There have been seasons that the blasting accusation of the enemy has declared that I am a hopeless mess with no future ahead. There are moments when disappointment has drained the faith from my soul until I was empty. Life can be hard–but when it is, I just need to lift up my eyes to heaven and declare, ALL MY SPRINGS ARE IN YOU, OH GOD!
I need to remember that I am connected to a hidden Source that supplies what I am unable to produce on my own. What flows into and through my life comes from the greater One that sits high and lifted up above every circumstance I will ever face. I do not belong in dry places where the devil whispers depression and darkness over me. I am connected to a massive reservoir of Living Water that the Lord has promised to those who come to Him.
The spring of my JOY is in God! David wrote that in God’s presence is fullness of joy! (Psalms 16:11) Joy is not dependent on the changing landscape of this world’s pleasures. It is not found in the safe convenience of human wisdom. It comes from God’s presence and pushes its way through the rockiest paths on which I find myself.
The spring of my HOPE is in God! He is a God of Hope! (Romans 15:3) Hope is not mere wishful thinking. It is a powerful spiritual force connected to faith and originating in what God has revealed about Himself. The God Who protected Noah in the storm can be trusted to take care of me when I find myself caught up in a tempest. The Lord Who multiplied fish and loaves to feed hungry crowds by the sea of Galilee will make sure that I have all I need in my life. Because of Who He is, I have hope. It flows from Him and works its way through my days.
The spring of my PEACE and WHOLENESS is in God! He is the God Who heals, delivers, upholds, and defends. If He is on my side, what do I have to fear? If I find myself on the front lines of spiritual warfare, I do not have to cower in fear. The spring of STRENGTH in my life is in Him, the God Who never grows weary. I will never exhaust the reservoirs of His power and ability!
Can I be bold enough to ask, what is it that you need? Love? Direction? Healing? Let me tell you the secret that has framed my life. Whatever I need in my life, my springs are in God! He will never let me down.
Will you pray with me?
Father, our springs are in You. Forgive us for times that we have looked in polluted cisterns trying to meet the needs only you can truly satisfy. We declare that You are our Source! We worship in amazement at the wonder of YOU!
