Encouragement for Today
 | September 21, 2026 When Faith Becomes More Than a Label |
Author of Poison in the Well
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38, ESV).
I love studying God's Word. There’s something deeply comforting about opening my Bible in the early morning, coffee nearby, ready to discover something fresh about the Lord.
But I've learned something important over the years: It's possible to know a lot about God and still feel spiritually thirsty.
Maybe you’ve felt that tension too. You faithfully attend church. You participate in Bible studies. You fill journals with insights and prayers. Yet sometimes, despite all those good things, your heart feels dry. You wonder why the peace, joy, or closeness with God that you read about seems just out of reach.
That’s why Jesus’ invitation in John 7 captures my heart every time I read it. He doesn't simply invite us to learn more. He invites us to come to Him:
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”’” (John 7:37-38, ESV).
Jesus spoke directly to a universal human need: spiritual thirst. Notice He didn't say, “If anyone thirsts, let him study more.” He said, “Come to me and drink.”
There's a difference between standing beside a well and actually drawing water from it.
I can memorize facts about water and still remain thirsty. I can admire a river from a distance without ever stepping into it. In the same way, I can fill my mind with biblical knowledge while neglecting the relationship that knowledge is meant to cultivate.
God never intended His Word to be merely information. Scripture is an invitation into deeper fellowship with Him.
The more I study the Bible, the more I realize that every page points me toward Jesus — the true source of living water.
Jesus welcomes thirsty people. Not people who have it all together, with perfect faith, who never struggle. Just thirsty people. He welcomed the woman at the well and the doubting disciples. He welcomes weary saints who love Him yet sometimes feel spiritually depleted. And He welcomes us.
Authentic faith is built on dependence, not performance. Every day is another opportunity to return to the divine source and receive what our souls need most.
When we do, the living water of Christ begins to refresh us and those around us. Our faith becomes more than a label. It becomes a life overflowing with His grace.
Friend, if your soul feels thirsty today, that may be God's invitation to draw closer to the One who promises living water that never runs dry.
Father, thank You for being the source of living water for my soul. Forgive me for the times I have relied on knowledge, routine, or performance more than relationship with You. Draw my heart closer to Jesus, and help me come to Him daily with my needs, questions, and weaknesses. In Jesus’ name, amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
If you’ve ever felt spiritually numb, been stuck in routine religion, or wondered whether your faith is really alive, grab a copy of Granger Smith’s book, Poison in the Well: 11 Toxic Beliefs That Kept Me from the Living Water of Jesus.
ENGAGE
To hear more from Granger Smith, follow him on Instagram, subscribe to his YouTube channel, or visit grangersmith.com.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of Poison in the Well by Granger Smith. To celebrate this book, Granger’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, September 28, 2026.}
FOR DEEPER STUDY
John 4:13-14, “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life’” (ESV).
Jeremiah 2:13, “for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (ESV).
In what areas of your life have you been relying more on spiritual routines than on a daily relationship with Jesus?
What is one practical way you can respond to Christ's invitation to “come and drink” this week and draw closer to Him? Leave a comment to let us know!
© 2026 by Granger Smith. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks W Publishing Group for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
Click here to view our policy on third-party links.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org