The Cure for Stagnation
If you’ve visited me here previously, you likely know I’m a proponent of physical activity as an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. I often walk a nature trail near my house as part of my weekly exercise agenda. Sometimes it’s the cure for stagnation for me, in body, brain, and spirit.
Stagnant water
Recently on a walk, I noticed stagnant water in one of the ponds. According to Webster’s dictionary stagnant means “foul, impure, not brisk, dull.” Relative to water, stagnant means, “not flowing.”
Water becomes stagnant when it isn’t flowing. Stagnant water is not a good environment for healthy and beneficial growth of organisms. Actually it’s the opposite–stagnate water can become the habitat for dangerous pathogens such a E. coli, legionella, and deadly bacteria. Stagnant water can also offer breeding opportunities for mosquitoes, maggots, and other undesirable insects. ICK!
The stagnation in this pond is caused by a recent dry spell which reduced the flow of water into and out of the pond. Flowing water has continuous circulation, is more pure, has more oxygen, thus supporting less dangerous inhabitants.
Flowing water doesn’t get stagnant.
Living water
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and asked for a drink, she questioned his motive. Within their cultural norms, Jews did not associate with Samaritans.
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10, NIV*)
This response confused the Samaritan woman. Jesus did not have a bucket to draw water. The peoples’ ancestor, Jacob, had given them the well. Who was this man who claimed to have “living water?” And what was living water, anyway?
Jesus elaborated:
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13)
The Samaritan woman continued to struggle with the concept of “living water” but when Jesus declared He was the Messiah, the woman rushed away to tell others what she had seen and heard.
The Samaritan woman believed and acted. She was a witness for Jesus. She wasn’t stagnant.
The cure for stagnation
We can become stagnant in our walk of faith and service–foul, dull, and impure. What is the cure?
Just as water is cleaned when it flows over rocks, circulating and pulling in oxygen, we are purified by the living water of Christ.
Like the Samaritan woman, we can choose to believe. We can accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In Him, we can live. In Him we become pure.
Through the gift of living water, Jesus takes away stagnation.
“Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)
*All scripture is from the NIV
Loved your analogy here Katherine. The presence of stagnant water is an eyesore- unattractive- and not good for the environment. That extends to your spiritual application – being spiritually stagnant doesn’t just affect us personally, but affects and influences those around us. Thank you for your illustration.
The Samaritan woman story is such a beautiful story of redemption. Jesus’s pure, living water cleanses us and removes the stagnation from our lives. Thanks for this wonderful comparison, Katherine.
I’ve always loved the story of the Samaritan woman because it demonstrates the love Jesus shares for all people–we don’t have to be perfect to receive His love and forgiveness. We just have to believe and follow Him. Thank you for your kind encouragement, Barbara. Wishing you joy and blessings.
Thank you for adding your insights, Marilyn. Your example is a great illustration of just how unpleasant and unproductive stagnant water and stagnant people can be. I’m grateful for your wisdom and encouragement.
I love this analogy Katherine. The impurities in the stagnant water provides a great picture of our souls sinful condition. Living, flowing, water is the only way to wash away our sins. Great post and thanks for sharing.
Lisa, you’ve provided a wonderful reminder that Jesus is the only One who can cleanse us of our sins. We are so blessed by His love, mercy, and grace. Wishing you blessings and continuing to pray for you.
Fabulous word picture here, Katherine. When we stand still, bugs and mold creep into our lives. Thanks and God bless!
You are right, Nancy. Bugs, mold, and other unpleasant things seek us out when we’re standing still. Our only safe pathway is to move forward with Jesus. May God bless you.
Having a stock pond for our cattle, which is quite common in Texas, requires constant watch care to avoid stagnation of the non-flowing water and all the “ick” that comes with it. It is a breeding ground for poisonous snakes and snapping turtles. Little wonder that my cattle much prefer to drink from the water troughs where clean, treated water is made available. Without creeks and streams, or other water source, stagnation can happen easily. If we don’t treat it, it can become dangerous to the livestock it is meant for. In that same way, as your analogy so clearly points out, our souls can become stagnant if we don’t allow Christ’s living water to flow through us. For it to do so, we have to keeps its source coming in. That source is the Word of God. When we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives through salvation, we are filled with the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:9). If we suffer drought in our lives, like our stock ponds, we “dry up.” When that happens, we must be refilled through confession and repentance. Thank you for this important reminder ma’am. God’s blessings.
Thank you, J.D., for adding your wisdom to our discussion. Your insight always helps us better understand God’s Word. We are so blessed that our Lord “fills us with the oil of gladness” and rescues us when we begin to dry up from distractions and overwhelming responsibilities. Jesus is our Savior, but we must accept the gift of salvation and continue on our journey with Him. He fills the dry places with living water–the gift of love and life.
I love the story of the woman at the well. Once the Living Water washed over her, she was no longer stagnant. We need that daily flow of God’s Spirit to wash through every corner of our lives every day. Thanks, Katherine!
I love this story, too, Annie. It helps me recognize how much our Lord loved me–in spite of my sinful past. He doesn’t give up on us. We are so blessed.
Jesus as living water is a wonderful and apt image. We need to drink from His well often so our spiritual selves don’t stagnate. Only He can purify us.
It is hard for me to believe that God loved me so much that He rescued me, sinner that I am. As you point out, Candyce, His well is always open to us. We only have to choose to accept His gift of love and drink from the living water He provides. May God bless you.
Thank you for sharing this refreshing and spiritually nourishing perspective. It serves as a timely reminder to seek the continuous flow of God’s grace and to live as witnesses of His transformative love. Sharing this quote: “As the waters of a river roll in constant circulation, and keep the fish in perpetual motion and life, so doth Christ’s living Spirit, the Holy Ghost, perpetually move in the hearts of saints” – Charles Spurgeon
Thank you for stopping by my blog, Aritha. I’m so glad you shared this quote from Charles Spurgeon. His wisdom summarizes the premise of my blog message in one sentence. We are so blessed that the living Spirit of Christ is with us at all times to guide us on our journey with Him. Wishing you peace and blessings.
Katherine, your pictures of the stagnant pond and the flowing stream reminded me how God refreshes our minds and spirit when we read His Word. He washes away the stagnation with all of its undesirable contents and fills us with truth. This sentence you wrote sums up our need for constant communication with Jesus: “Just as water is cleaned when it flows over rocks, circulating and pulling in oxygen, we are purified by the living water of Christ.”
Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus washes away all the dirt, stagnant mud, and all our sins, unworthy as we are? We are so blessed. Thank you for your encouragement, Jeannie.
May we never grow stagnant in our service to God.
Amen! He is with us every step of our journey. We serve a mighty, merciful, and marvelous God.
Walks in nature really helps me when I feel stagnant in my faith. Thanks for this encouraging message Katherine
Nature walks are my go to stress reliever, problem solving strategy, and good health boost. Thank you for sending joy and sunshine, Yvonne.
What a great picture to emphasize how much we need the living water Jesus gives us so we don’t become stagnant–not moving forward.
I’ve found it hard not to become stagnant when staying in one place becomes comfortable. Our journey with our Lord is always moving forward, drawing closer to Him. Thank you, Kathy, for being a wonderful role model and encourager.