Where do you draw strength from when you need it? Who or what do you turn to when scared or worried? What sources of hope do you hold?

The sons of Korah sang the praises of Zion, the city of God, which stood as a symbol of God’s kingdom present among his people. They ended this short psalm with this line: Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”

What does this rather obscure phrase mean, and how might we apply that meaning today?

All my springs referenced their sources of spiritual joy, and those celebrating the goodness of the Lord (singers and dancers in this case) turned to God in thanks and acknowledgement. They knew who buttered their bread, and they exulted in this connection with their Creator.

I’m reminded Revelation 22:1, where we read of another abundant spring flowing to God’s people: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The Lord provides plentiful amounts of hope and joy and meaning. Inexhaustible, his riches flow in crystalline streams. But I must find my way to that water. I often meander, hoping to find joy and comfort in other places. But each diversion leads only to brackish pools, shallow and stagnant.

All hope, all peace, and all good things are found in God’s waters, and his springs become our springs if we seek him out.

Psalm 87:7

Photo by Jonathan Larson

In the lead up to the most dramatic miracle he performed, Jesus consoled Martha regarding her brother Lazarus, lying dead in a nearby cave. Martha fervently trusted Jesus, her personal friend and regular guest in her home. She believed that Jesus could have saved her brother, and that Lazarus would live again in the next life. Then Jesus pressed further.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Martha soon experienced the vast power behind these words. Before her eyes Jesus called Lazarus from the grave. I am the resurrection and the life shifted in her mind from hoped-for promise to stark, blazing fact. Jesus literally gave life back to her dead brother.

Do you believe this? Jesus’ question to Martha appeared rhetorical, but in actuality he asked her if she truly believed that the man standing in front of her controlled life and death, decomposing flesh and the laws of biology.

Martha believed Jesus as much as she could before the raising. Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. But shortly thereafter she believed on an entirely different level. She realized that the Son of God indeed stepped into the world, dined at her table, dried her tears, and breathed life into her brother.

The central question of our lives is the same one Martha faced—what to do with Jesus? Do we believe his teachings about actually being God in the flesh, the resurrection and the life? Our answer makes all the difference, in this world and the next.

Jesus’ statement about himself, and his actions to back it up, remain valid. Even after all these centuries he questions you and me in the same way—do you believe this?

John 11:25-26

Photo by Lexi Laginess

It’s pretty easy for me to allow angst to creep into my life. All I have to do is scroll the news feed on my phone, then turn to commentary on social media. I’ll face the demise of the world order, chaos in the streets, all my rights taken away and climate catastrophe. But no worries, I’ll find plenty of stuff to buy in order to distract me from the real problems I face.

Certain thieves prove more effective than others in getting into our personal space. While some push recognition, others promise money and pleasure. The 24/7 news cycle steals calm, and converting politics into a religion creates anger. Medicating it all with alcohol or food opens a side door, and constant advertising never lets us close any egress. The phone in my hand opens a gateway to mental anguish. Thieves of my soul don’t need to sneak in the window because I unlatch the door and leave it swinging open.

Fortunately, Jesus offers a better way.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.

The door of Jesus promises protection from looters of my soul. In Him in find a true state of quality. My life opens to relationships of depth while the allure of shiny things fade. I edge away from self-centeredness and learn to think of others as I think of myself. Best of all, Jesus pours out this type of living in abundance. Lavish, copious, overflowing — mass quantities of grace and peace.

Lock out the thieves. Instead, choose life in abundance by opening the Jesus door.

John 10:9-10

Photo by Jan Tinneberg

I take my eyesight for granted, until I find myself squinting at the text of a book printed in a tiny font. The problem is that a few years ago those words were not tiny at all, and I read the same book with ease. My favorite wonder of this age is the Kindle reader, which allows me to resize the font of any book I’m reading as big as I want. Thank you technology.

Many of us live with poor eyesight, and even the apostle Paul suffered in this way. But I cannot imagine a life of blindness. Jesus once healed a blind man on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees got wind of this miracle and brought the man in for questioning. After grilling him and his parents and accusing Jesus of violating Sabbath laws, the man simply responded, Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.

The man was blind from birth. As an adult he finally experienced the brilliant world around him through his eyes, restored to 20/20 vision. He exulted in these new powers. He told everyone, including a tribunal of religious leaders.

Though I was blind, now I see. The man pointed to Jesus. His argument involved no deep revelations from the Hebrew scriptures, philosophical insights, or profound comments on the nature of man. Rather, he spoke of the One who saved him body and soul.

I was blind, now I see. Still a good answer for anyone who questions why you follow Jesus.

John 9:25

Photo by Wesley Tingey