Replenishing the Well ~ A Prayer for Healing

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Replenishing the Well ~ A Prayer for Healing

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Recently, I’ve hit a wall in my life, though, in truth, it’s been building for a while. Over the past two and a half years—especially since my dad passed away—I’ve felt like things have been falling apart. Through this, God has exposed some tendencies in me that I needed to confront. One major tendency, as a friend pointed out, is that I often try to see the best in people. I empathize with human flaws and errors, but in doing so, I sometimes overlook what are actually red flags.

In these last couple of years, I’ve placed my trust in people, places, and things, only to have the rug pulled out from under me repeatedly. I believe I’m on my fourth time around this same cycle. After leaving a place I was deeply in love with—not a person, but a place, with the beauty of the nature and animals—I realized that despite my efforts, I was severely undervalued.

Now, I’m sitting here with this soul-satisfying understanding that I am not just a people-pleaser, but someone who genuinely loves others. I have a wide array of skills and knowledge, and my instinct is always to help. However, in constantly putting others first, I’ve created an unstable foundation for my own life.

During a recent conversation with a friend, I realized that I need to pull back and focus on building a stable foundation for myself. I didn’t have a stable childhood, which has translated into an unstable life in adulthood. I’ve always believed that it was okay to live somewhat unsteadily as long as I was doing good in the world. And while it is noble to serve others, there comes a point where you must pour into yourself.

I’m finally ready to sit with myself and God, and be present with what I need to work through—the financial instability that has driven me to make poor choices, the emotional instability I’ve carried, and the areas of my life I need to heal. I am learning the importance of being fully present with myself and with God, striving for unity between the two.

I encourage you to take a step back as well. Evaluate the people, places, and things that aren’t pouring back into you, and create space to pour into yourself. If we keep giving to things that don’t reciprocate, we are only draining our buckets without replenishment. Even when I try to replenish by doing things I love, like hiking, I’ve realized that no amount of those activities can restore me if I’m constantly draining myself.

Take time today to step back, evaluate where you’re investing your energy, and ask God to help you let go of anything that isn’t serving His purpose for you.

**Bible Verses for Reflection**:

1. **Proverbs 4:23** – "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

- We must guard our hearts by being mindful of where we invest our energy and affection.

2. **Matthew 11:28-30** – "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

- Jesus invites us to rest in Him, offering replenishment when we are drained.

3. **Galatians 6:9** – "Let us not bec ome weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

- It’s important to continue doing good but also remember that rest and renewal are part of the journey.

4. **Psalm 23:1-3** – "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul."

- God restores our souls when we take time to be with Him and receive His guidance.