I was recently traveling through western Colorado with my family, and noticed the beauty of the water cutting through rocks everywhere we went. In some places, it became a rushing waterfall, wildly dancing down massive rock walls. In others, it had caressed the rocks so many times it had made them smooth, carving out little bowls and baths along the way. Minerals and varieties of rock were revealed as well, as colors of all sorts showed through the places the water had run over so many times.
The beauty was everywhere, and God spoke to me about how the streams of living water flowing through us were just like that. This stream is love rushing over hard hearts, difficult circumstances and places of defeat and discouragement. His love cuts through the rocks, bringing forth joy, beauty and even gentleness. The rocks were no match for the steady faithfulness of the water as it continued to pour over every day.
Sometimes we get weary of showing up in love, especially when the love is met with rejection, hatred and coldness. But Jesus is the Source for the streams of living water coming through us, and His love never ends. His love continues to run over the rocks of our lives, revealing beauty where it looked like only defeat. His love faithfully streams over the hard places in other’s lives as well, and doesn’t stop because of their response.
Whatever rock you find in your life, I hope you will let Jesus speak to you about how His love flows through you over the hard edges to create smoothness, joy and beauty as He faithfully pursues us and all of those around us.
Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds—“All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink! Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” John 7:37b-38