One hot summer day in 1985 or so, I was at my Grandmother’s house.

I came in from playing outside and I was hot and thirsty. My grandmother insisted I eat something. She asked if I wanted a peanut butter sandwich. I assumed by that she meant a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But apparently she meant only peanut butter.

She brought me the sandwich, and despite her being an awesome cook in every other way. She hadn’t mastered the fine art of the sandwich. It had triple the amount of peanut butter I would’ve used and for some reason the bread was old and extremely dry.

I don’t mean the bread was a little dry, I mean it should’ve been thrown out the previous week and it tasted like the desert dry. She put the Sahara sandwich down in front of me, along with a glass of milk.

Growing up I didn’t like milk, and I particularly didn’t want it that day when I was overheated and parched. But my grandmother sat down beside me, and like a good grandson, I started to eat the moisture-less meal.

It took me a half an hour to choke down all that peanut butter and barren bread. The milk didn’t help at all. It was exactly the opposite of what I wanted at the time. I desired anything to quench my thirst and I got something that made it worse.

There is a thirst in all of us that is beyond physical. It’s more like a spiritual thirst. We long for relief, for renewing, for a saturation in our soul. We often look for a way to alleviate this thirst in relationships, substances, and experiences. But the thirst keeps coming back.

What the world offers for this soul thirst is like that sandwich and milk my Grandmother offered. No matter how well intentioned or presented, it doesn’t satisfy our soul. There is nothing in medicine, philosophy, or therapy that can permanently quench this soul thirst.

Jesus mentioned this kind of thirst, and He offered water so satisfying, we would never thirst again. He explained that this water was from a well that would never run dry. God understands this thirst we have.

We are spiritual beings, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Physically, we suffer without nutrition and movement. Emotionally, we ache without support and acceptance. Spiritually, we need connection and meaning.

In Christ you will find all the joy your heart craves, all the peace your mind desires, and complete satisfaction for your thirsty soul.

-Tom Wise