Reflections on living water and spiritual tides

In the beautiful Prince William Sound of Alaska, there is a hidden bay with a large grassy tidal flat. Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, the bay is peaceful and remarkably untouched. Constantly flowing through the grassy flat at the head of the bay is a crystal-clear stream. It glides towards the salty water of the Sound with persistence and devotion. Where the freshwater stream meets the saltiness of the ocean, one can almost hear a refreshing sigh as the pure waters dilute the bitterness of the Sound. The bay is long, and the coastline supports an extensive intertidal zone.

The ocean at times can be quite distant from the stream, leaving a barren, stagnant bog. And yet the stream flows onward, crossing the distant flats to reach the retreating ocean water, beckoning it to return.

Our lives can ebb and flow like the oscillating tides of this beautiful bay. There are periods of devotion and commitment when we drink deeply from the living waters of Jesus Christ. At other times, we may withdraw from Him through unfaithfulness, doubt, vanity, pride, ambition, or even obstinate disobedience.

We may find ourselves at a spiritual low tide, with a distant stagnant flat between the Savior’s grace and us. Unfortunately, our reunification with Christ may not follow a predictable tide table. Only we can close the gap but may choose to wallow in the mudflat as we prolong our low tide. We may convince ourselves that the separation is inevitable or that we do not know the way back to him.

In John 14, Jesus taught his apostles of the mansions prepared in heaven for those who follow Him. He told the apostles what He thought they already knew: “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

But Thomas, ever the inquisitor of the group, asked Jesus (what may have been a disappointing question), “We know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

Despite everything the apostles had witnessed and felt, they were troubled when Christ taught about his impending separation from them. Have you ever wondered, as they did, “how can we know the way?”

With love and patience, the Lord answers Thomas (and us), saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an of apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, further clarified this exchange in John 14: “He is saying to us, ‘Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going.’ He says, “we can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have. If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness.’ He promises. ‘I will give you answers to your prayers. I will give you rest to your souls’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2006 Conference).

It turns out, in times of spiritual separation from Christ, He is always there. Despite the distance or the duration of our ebbing faith, “every time we reach out, however feebly, for Him, we discover He has been anxiously trying to reach us” (Holland, 2006). Just as the clear stream of the bay ever reaches for and flows toward the returning tide.

When we find ourselves away from our Heavenly Father, Elder Holland advised, “Whatever other steps you may need…come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven’s promises.” He continued, “Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. When He says to the poor in spirit, ‘Come unto me,’ He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way” (Holland, 2006).

As I write this, I can feel the draw of that clear stream in the hidden bay. I remember that life is good if we choose to make it so. Let us turn the tide in this season of uncertainty and find refreshment and rest in the living waters of Jesus Christ.

Tom Wadsworth is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Assistant Dean for the UAA/ISU Doctor of Pharmacy Program at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Tom is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and resides in Wasilla with his wife Heidi and their six children.