Streams of Comfort

I wrote this poem after praying about where the root of perfectionism is in my life and reading through the Book of John. What I have written is the response I believe God has given me to my prayer. As I recalled verses about how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (Jhn 14:6), how he gives his sheep eternal life (Jhn 10:28), and how he calls us to him to drink living water (Jhn 7:37-38). I started to realize how perfectionism can be used to satisfy a deep longing within us. And that longing is for life. I pray that you are encouraged to let go of perfectionism a little more this week if you struggle with it. And I hope that you will look up and read these bible verses I reference briefly in their totality.

What are you reaching for Oh tired soul?
What is it that you are striving for?
You have yet to end your labor,
And drink the water I provided for you,
The water I have provided you in this place where it does not rain.
You pray,
“Father please provide water,
In this dry and desolate place,
For I thirst and there is no rain.”
But you do not drink the water I have given you,
You seek water from heaven,
But are consumed with digging a well,
To access water from the earth yourself.
Can this well quench your thirst?
Is your thirst only constrained to the confines of this life?
Do you remember these words of Jesus,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink,
Whoever believes in me,
As the Scripture has said,
Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,” (Jhn 7:37-38)
And he was speaking about the Holy Spirit when he said this.
You do not know what it is you truly thirst for,
Eternal life.
Perfectionism is the well you dig,
To temporarily satisfy your longing for it,
But your tired hands cannot sustain your life.
I have already given what you ask for,
Listen and hear the voice of my Spirit,
He is always with you,
Guiding you toward Jesus,
Who is your life and salvation.
Oh tired soul,
Come and rest your weary hands,
Drink of the living water I have given you,
Fall deeper in love with Jesus,
Forsake the water that you are digging up from the ground,
And let him satisfy the depths of your soul,
With eternal life.