Advent Devotional by Katie Jo Wheeler

Isaiah 12:2-6

“[Jesus,] the well of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)

What we wouldn’t have given for a well in 2018! Only a year after catastrophic statewide flooding, northern Missouri was facing extreme drought–much like other parts of Missouri are facing today, except northern Missouri lacks the groundwater resources found elsewhere in our state. During the 2018 drought our teams at the Department of Natural Resources were working hard to ease the pain and panic. Some were opening state-park lands so farmers could bail hay and pump water for their livestock. Others were assessing water supplies and establishing miles of emergency pipe connections to keep drinking water flowing. Still others were arguing with the Corps of Engineers, who control flow to the Missouri River, over how much water to release from upstream reservoirs.

We did all we could do, but the wells were dry. And ponds. And streams. And even entire lakes. Two communities came within days of running out of water before relief arrived.

Working on drought response deepened and widened my understanding of Jesus as the well of salvation: not an overbearing flood or a fickle rain, but a steady, never-ending supply of living water. A well that’s always within reach of all who thirst, and capable of quenching that thirst once and for all. What a precious gift to behold our God, who comes to sit with us and share a drink.

Katie Jo Wheeler