Refresh the Water

If you know me and have read my posts before, you know I leave dishes in the sink sometimes. Actually, almost every night if I’m being honest. (Does it count as almost if it’s only twice a year that I don’t?)

If the dishwasher and drainer are full, whatever is left in the sink can wait until the next day to get washed. I’m a morning person, so cleaning up at night is not my favorite thing. But I always fill up the largest dish with soap and super hot water to soak off some of the stuck-on stuff to make my job easier in the morning.

Today when I came downstairs, I noticed that the soap bubbles had completely dissipated, but the stuck-on stuff had not fully softened. Shucks. Looks like I was in for some scrubbing.

I noticed something interesting, however. Aiming the sprayer directly into those dirty dishes refreshed the soap. It bubbled right back up again, just like it did last night.

And the thought struck me. If the soap seems gone, refresh the water.

Perhaps in your life you’re going through a period where you just don’t seem to be getting anything out of the Word. You read, and then walk away, forgetting what you read. It has no impact on your heart or life. Or maybe you don’t read at all because you don’t think it’s going to mean anything.

I’ve been there.

Can I kindly suggest that you refresh the Water? Try something new. Change up your devotional habits. Sit somewhere else. Find a devotional you can follow for a while to give you a different perspective. Listen to a podcast to help you through the slump.

And honestly, tell a friend you’re struggling.

Praying with someone else, hearing how they’re growing, and letting them pray for you is one of the most encouraging things you can do for yourself! Everyone has times of struggle. It’s not helpful to pretend that we don’t. It can be so healing to reach out and let others into your story.

Satan loves nothing more than for us to believe we’re alone, that we’re the only one struggling. And you know what? So what if you are- still tell someone. God calls us to bear one another’s burdens, but we can’t if we don’t know about them.

If you know Jesus personally, then the soap is there in your life. He never leaves you, never forsakes you. But sometimes we need to refresh the water and remind ourselves He is with us, and change things up so we get a different perspective.

It can make all the difference.

Psalm 51:8-13
[8] Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
(9) Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
(10) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
(11) Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
(12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
(13) Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Hebrews 13:5b
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.