A well-watered garden (Dan Wells)

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“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

I have already confessed in a previous post that I’m a dreadful gardener. But even I know one or two things about what plants and flowers need. Water is one of those fundamentals. Even the most basic of gardeners know that gardens need watering.

Summer is usually the time when we see the effect of a lack of water. Hot, sunny days, especially a string of them together, can have a profound effect on gardens and parks. Flowers wilt in the sunshine, plants fail to thrive and grass turns thin and brown. We can all see the effect and notice that it is not good. We don’t experience much of the full force of drought in the UK, but there are plenty of countries around the world where drought is a profound problem, causing issues not only with the beauty of gardens but the production of food.

What is surprising is how quickly plants can respond to watering. A wilting flower can quickly be restored to strength even with a little water. A well-watered garden is a place of live and growth and vitality. Lush and green instead of brown and dry marks out a place with the right amount of water.

God’s desire for you and I is to be well-watered. God is a gardener, and we are his garden. God speaks hope through the prophet Isaiah and says to a dry and weary people, “you will be like a well-watered garden.” God promises a spring whose waters never fail, which is the same language that Jesus uses to describe the gift of the Holy Spirit. We need to be well-watered by God’s Spirit each and every day. If you are feeling a little dry and parched today, why not come to God and ask his Spirit to refresh you once again?

Heavenly Father, thank you that you want me to be well-watered and able to thrive. Thank you that you give your Holy Spirit as a spring of living water that will never run dry. Fill me again with that living water today. Amen.

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