I like God because rivers of living water flow from within me

Danny Fourie

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.  John 7:38

A psychologist asked herself what Jesus meant when he said that rivers of living water would flow from within us. She gave quite an illuminating answer. According to her, Christ promised that he would take care that the deepest longings of our heart would be satisfied.

Take but Paul for instance. When he was a missionary, he did not know of all the sufferings and hardship that awaited him and that he would have to go through. But Paul looked beyond the horrors he had to experience. His answer was that his present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to him.

The psychologist calls the deepest longing of man the essential or primary desire. This means, according to her, that every human being longs to have a relationship with Someone who is invincibly strong and Who accepts us lovingly. This primary longing can only be satisfied in one way: Through the relationship that can only be offered by God.

She continues to also describe the secondary desires of man. It is the desire to have close friends and also the desire to share your life with someone.

But what does the explanation of desires have to do with the fact that we can be happy? The psychologist merely confirmed that that which we most desire already have been given to us and will never be taken away. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God. God has already fulfilled our primary desire.

The wish and desire to have a wonderful love relationship with someone, the desire to get that fixed contract at the office, is nothing more than secondary yearnings. It would be nice if it is fulfilled, but, again, this is not essential. We already have what we deeply desire.

Pray: Thank you Lord for the wonder of having a relationship with you. Thank you that you are invincibly strong and that you accept me just as I am. Amen