On our annual trek through the Andes last summer, my husband finally persuaded me to add a Camelbak water reservoir to my backpack. Convinced the water would be lukewarm and distasteful from being slurped through a thick plastic tube connected to the reservoir, I had stubbornly refused the hydration system. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to discover that the water didn’t taste like plastic, and constantly sipping as I hiked gave me the extra energy boost necessary to make it over the 15,000-foot pass. But I can’t deny the fact that taking a few big gulps from my regular water bottle when I finally made it to the top was more satisfying than drinking from the plastic tube.

The most invigorating moment of the trek, however, came when we hiked into a picturesque valley with a river running through it. After waiting for a shepherd to finish watering his flocks, we pulled off our dirty boots and let the cold water soak the soreness out of our feet. Making good use of our soap and shampoo, we came out of that chilly water feeling truly refreshed for the first time in several days. 

Water’s refreshing qualities parallel how our relationship with God’s Word brings different levels of refreshment to our lives. Daily Bible reading, even if it’s just a short passage, keeps us going like the constant sips of water from the plastic tube of my Camelbak that helped me make it all the way up to the high passes. Stopping at the top and taking a big gulp from my bottle brings the kind of refreshment we get from a weekly Bible study or an encouraging church service. And just like there was nothing quite as refreshing as totally immersing myself in that cold mountain stream, taking (or making) the opportunity to get away from daily pressures to completely soak ourselves in God’s Word and in His presence works wonders in rejuvenating our spiritual lives. 

May God encourage us to be faithful in spending daily time in His Word. May He grant us friendships with sisters who will draw us closer to Him on a regular basis. And let’s pray that He will provide refreshing times of total immersion in Him and in His word exactly when we need them the most.