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River reflections

Some spiritual encouragement from Margaret McVeigh, Head of Church Relations at Care

Rivers are one of my favourite things. I love the refreshing sense of vibrant life that comes with the sound of a river rushing along in full flood or the tranquillity of a quiet stream flowing through a wooded copse. The Bible often uses the imagery of rivers to illustrate spiritual truth.

In Psalm 1 we read that the person who knows God and who spends time learning from his word is "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither."

The tree that is planted beside a river benefits from all the moisture which permeates the soil at the river bank. The vegetation near the river will be lush and flourishing; as the seasons pass it will flower and then bear fruit according to its type. It won't dry up, wizen and die as plants do when left untended and without water.

This is a word to all of us - we need to be sure that our roots are planted beside the river; the river of God's grace and truth. It is essential for our spiritual growth that our roots are well-watered through reading the Bible and prayer. It is as we pursue the discipline of discipleship that we will find ourselves fruitful both in terms of our inner spiritual life and our witness to others about the love of Christ. When we neglect these disciplines we find our inner lives drying up and our spiritual power is diminished.

Recently I had the privilege of visiting the Diocese of Ruaha in south central Tanzania and we travelled out into the rift valley to visit churches in the scattered villages there. The terrain was dry and arid but we were taken to visit an irrigation project and the difference the water made to the vegetation was quite startling. As we drove along it was easy to distinguish the irrigated area by the green and lush vegetation.

There is always the possibility that we go through times of spiritual barrenness in our lives and somehow there seems to be nothing to alleviate the dryness and the sense of wasteland that overcomes us. God understands that experience and through the prophet Isaiah he encouraged his people in a time of deep spiritual depression when they were in exile. In chapter 41 we read this wonderful picture of refreshment and renewal:

"The poor and needy search for water but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs."

Just as it took time to build the irrigation channels in Tanzania and bring refreshment to barren soil so it can take time for renewal and restoration to come in our lives. It is at times like this that we need to hold on to the promises of God and rely on his faithfulness. In due time he will bring the refreshing rivers of his Spirit to the waste places of our lives. We will taste again the renewing power of his grace and love.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		River reflections Some spiritual encouragement from Margaret McVeigh, Head of Church Relations at Care Rivers are one of my favourite things. I love the refreshing sense of vibrant life that comes with the sound of a river rushing along in full flood or the tranquillity of a quiet stream flowing through a wooded copse. The Bible often uses the imagery of rivers to illustrate spiritual truth. In Psalm 1 we read that the person who knows God and who spends time learning from his word is "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." The tree that is planted beside a river benefits from all the moisture which permeates the soil at the river bank. The vegetation near the river will be lush and flourishing; as the seasons pass it will flower and then bear fruit according to its type. It won't dry up, wizen and die as plants do when left untended and without water. This is a word to all of us - we need to be sure that our roots are planted beside the river; the river of God's grace and truth. It is essential for our spiritual growth that our roots are well-watered through reading the Bible and prayer. It is as we pursue the discipline of discipleship that we will find ourselves fruitful both in terms of our inner spiritual life and our witness to others about the love of Christ. When we neglect these disciplines we find our inner lives drying up and our spiritual power is diminished. Recently I had the privilege of visiting the Diocese of Ruaha in south central Tanzania and we travelled out into the rift valley to visit churches in the scattered villages there. The terrain was dry and arid but we were taken to visit an irrigation project and the difference the water made to the vegetation was quite startling. As we drove along it was easy to distinguish the irrigated area by the green and lush vegetation. There is always the possibility that we go through times of spiritual barrenness in our lives and somehow there seems to be nothing to alleviate the dryness and the sense of wasteland that overcomes us. God understands that experience and through the prophet Isaiah he encouraged his people in a time of deep spiritual depression when they were in exile. In chapter 41 we read this wonderful picture of refreshment and renewal: "The poor and needy search for water but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs." Just as it took time to build the irrigation channels in Tanzania and bring refreshment to barren soil so it can take time for renewal and restoration to come in our lives. It is at times like this that we need to hold on to the promises of God and rely on his faithfulness. In due time he will bring the refreshing rivers of his Spirit to the waste places of our lives. We will taste again the renewing power of his grace and love. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.