“My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT)
The sad reality is this: We live in a broken, fallen world—a world where sin and evil exist. And as a result, we all live with unmet needs.
This is not a perfect place, so all your needs will not be met while you live on earth. You have unmet relational, physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. You have a need to be known and understood and loved.
It’s understandable to want your needs met, but the last thing you should do is try to meet them your own way instead of trusting God. When you think you can meet your needs better than God can, it leads to broken hearts, broken dreams, broken bodies, and broken promises.
God said, “My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” (Jeremiah 2:13 NLT).
A cistern is a hole dug into the ground to store water. In a well, you have water that’s coming up from the ground. But a cistern is not connected to a water source, so you have to constantly fill it with water. Over time the water leaks into the ground, and the cistern goes dry. It eventually runs out of water. It’s temporary. Also, because there’s no new water coming into the cistern, the water can become murky and polluted.
God is saying that when you try to meet your needs in your own way, it’s like trying to keep fresh water in a cracked cistern. You will always run out of water in a cracked cistern—and you will always run out of power when you’re trying to meet your needs on your own.
In the book of John, Jesus refers to himself as Living Water. He said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38 NIV). God’s love and care for you and the power he gives you to live the Christian life are like a well that never runs dry. When you trust in him, he’ll take care of your needs in the best way and at the right time. You will have everything you need.
Don’t dig your own cistern that will always go dry. Trust in the Living Water that never runs out!
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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