No Other Stream

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

“…but whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 1:14

“Are you thirsty?” said the Lion.
“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.
“Then drink,” said the Lion.
“May I – could I – would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl…”
”I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill.
“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.
“Oh dear,” said Jill, coming another step nearer.
“I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”
“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.
(C.S. Lewis, “The Silver Chair”)

I know there’s really is no other stream. I know Aslan and what being close to him offers. He offers peace but requires surrender. I want to drink from the stream with Aslan but I don’t want to have to really do that to find what I’m longing for. I want to trust God but I don’t WANT to have to trust Him. He sees too much of me when I go to the stream with Him.

I thought I had given up so much already. I’ve let go of the right to myself many times before. Yet I find myself full of myself, My way, My timing, My plan. It’s hard to realize you’re not who you think you are before God.

Drinking with Aslan shows you. Will I go once again and drink? Do I want to know? Why can’t something else quench my thirst? Why can’t things get fixed without me having to die to myself?

Lately, I’ve slacked off from serious study of God’s Word. I’ve been enriched by some good devotion time but I’ve not really asked Him to search me. Maybe I really don’t want to know what He would say. I want who I am now to be enough to get by. I don’t think I want to have a layer peeled off right now. I wish I wasn’t thirsty. But I am….

What about you? What stream are you drinking from? Maybe, like me, now is the time to go back to the only stream and drink up.

Lisa-Jean Sodano

Lisa-Jean is new to America’s Keswick, joining the staff of Barbara’s Place, our soon to open Women’s Addiction Recovery Program. Lisa-Jean is also a pastor’s wife and mother of four children.