SCRIPTURAL PORTION FROM THE BIBLE : Jeremiah 2:13
God chose the nation of Israel and gave them a land flowing with milk and honey. God swore to protect them and make them flourish if they chose to obey his commandments. He even dwelt among them. He was their glory and pride. What more could a nation want! But they were foolish and their inner eyes turned to gods that their own hands had sculpted.
God was to them the fountain of living water, the source of life. But they wanted more. They tried to quench their inner thirst from broken cisterns which they had hewed with their own hands. These cisterns were so broken that they could not even hold water. Yet they forsook the fountain of living water and depended on these broken cisterns.
At the age of 13, my parents thought that it would be the best for me to stay with my granny and my aunt, to grow up into a sensible young lady. The first few months in India were exciting, as I was slowly taking in the new. People would usually say to my granny “What a happy child!”
But then rebellion started raging in me. It was hard to be away from the familiar circumstances in which I had grown up. Everything was different. I hated my parents and family for doing this to me. My old granny and aunt loved me dearly, and they spent many hours on their knees interceding for me. They did things for me to keep me happy. Yet I abused them every day. I squandered their precious savings to hurt them. As I grew up I did even worse things that I cannot even bear to write of. Soon I shun my family, and probably everybody I knew and always locked myself in my room right after school. I befriended the wrong people, who were my inspiration for many years. I pursued hobbies that were dark and evil. I finally brought myself to believe there is no God.
The nation of Israel suffered for its foolishness. The very idols that they trusted to help them in their times of distress, sat their in their shrines smirking and silent and not answering a word, or bringing help.
It was as if even when they were weak with thirst, they chose to drink from the broken cisterns that had no water, although the fountain of living water was flowing free for them.
For me, seven years went by. It was time to move out of town for my education. God was working in my life. He took me to a place, where I would experience helplessness like I have never experienced before. My education demanded lot of field work and corporate exposure. Each time, I approached someone, a friend, they would just shrug. People, whom I had helped during their times of trouble, never even bothered to hear me out. I had even laid on my bed for days being sick and no one to take care of me. I was ridiculed and bullied many times. I was almost at my wits end.
For many years my aunt had been relentlessly urging me to read the Bible. Reluctantly and with much sarcasm, I started reading the Bible, when I discovered I had no one to turn to for solace. I realized my foolishness was beyond measure and that I had lost my adolescent years to grudge and remorse. God’s comfort filled my heart. Soon I was so thirsty for this divine comfort that all I would do in my spare time is to read the Bible. People saw me smile again. I started talking to people around me. For the first time in many years, I longed to be with my family.
I decided to trust the Lord, for every next step that I had to take and depend on no man for my needs. Peace and joy beyond understanding filled me, even though the future steps where getting tougher by the hour. I was confronted with a need and I looked to the Lord alone. Help came – beyond even my wildest dreams. But, even more, I found true satisfaction through it. The relationship with God turned out to be a friendship. Then, there was no human friend, who could take God’s place in my life.
It was then I went on vacation at my granny’s place. During our family prayer, my aunt, took up the Malayalam version of the hymn, “O Christ, in Thee My Soul hath found”. We reached the third verse of the hymn and my past came flashing before me. Tears! Silent Tears! I managed to secretly wipe them away.
God chose the nation of Israel and gave them a land flowing with milk and honey. God swore to protect them and make them flourish if they chose to obey his commandments. He even dwelt among them. He was their glory and pride. What more could a nation want! But they were foolish and their inner eyes turned to gods that their own hands had sculpted.
God was to them the fountain of living water, the source of life. But they wanted more. They tried to quench their inner thirst from broken cisterns which they had hewed with their own hands. These cisterns were so broken that they could not even hold water. Yet they forsook the fountain of living water and depended on these broken cisterns.
At the age of 13, my parents thought that it would be the best for me to stay with my granny and my aunt, to grow up into a sensible young lady. The first few months in India were exciting, as I was slowly taking in the new. People would usually say to my granny “What a happy child!”
But then rebellion started raging in me. It was hard to be away from the familiar circumstances in which I had grown up. Everything was different. I hated my parents and family for doing this to me. My old granny and aunt loved me dearly, and they spent many hours on their knees interceding for me. They did things for me to keep me happy. Yet I abused them every day. I squandered their precious savings to hurt them. As I grew up I did even worse things that I cannot even bear to write of. Soon I shun my family, and probably everybody I knew and always locked myself in my room right after school. I befriended the wrong people, who were my inspiration for many years. I pursued hobbies that were dark and evil. I finally brought myself to believe there is no God.
The nation of Israel suffered for its foolishness. The very idols that they trusted to help them in their times of distress, sat their in their shrines smirking and silent and not answering a word, or bringing help.
It was as if even when they were weak with thirst, they chose to drink from the broken cisterns that had no water, although the fountain of living water was flowing free for them.
For me, seven years went by. It was time to move out of town for my education. God was working in my life. He took me to a place, where I would experience helplessness like I have never experienced before. My education demanded lot of field work and corporate exposure. Each time, I approached someone, a friend, they would just shrug. People, whom I had helped during their times of trouble, never even bothered to hear me out. I had even laid on my bed for days being sick and no one to take care of me. I was ridiculed and bullied many times. I was almost at my wits end.
For many years my aunt had been relentlessly urging me to read the Bible. Reluctantly and with much sarcasm, I started reading the Bible, when I discovered I had no one to turn to for solace. I realized my foolishness was beyond measure and that I had lost my adolescent years to grudge and remorse. God’s comfort filled my heart. Soon I was so thirsty for this divine comfort that all I would do in my spare time is to read the Bible. People saw me smile again. I started talking to people around me. For the first time in many years, I longed to be with my family.
I decided to trust the Lord, for every next step that I had to take and depend on no man for my needs. Peace and joy beyond understanding filled me, even though the future steps where getting tougher by the hour. I was confronted with a need and I looked to the Lord alone. Help came – beyond even my wildest dreams. But, even more, I found true satisfaction through it. The relationship with God turned out to be a friendship. Then, there was no human friend, who could take God’s place in my life.
It was then I went on vacation at my granny’s place. During our family prayer, my aunt, took up the Malayalam version of the hymn, “O Christ, in Thee My Soul hath found”. We reached the third verse of the hymn and my past came flashing before me. Tears! Silent Tears! I managed to secretly wipe them away.
I tried the broken cisterns, Lord
But, ah, the waters failed;
Even as I stooped to drink they fled,
And mocked me as I wailed.
Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other Name for me!
There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee.
For years, I spent my time, in vanity, trusting friends, or my talents and abilities to help me achieve my ambitions in life. I idolized money, power, success, achievement, pleasure, security, in the hope for self-actualization. I had even thought my education would help me reach my goals and give me a good life. Not only did my idols fail, but my inner strength withered away and I felt empty and wretched inside.
God reached out to me, so that I could draw free from his fountain of living water and and I must say, there is nothing so refreshing, absolutely nothing so satisfying and joyful, as the rivers of peace and love that flow from Immanuel’s veins.
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