When we explored the area just down the road from our campsite, we discovered why the beautiful campground at Elephant Butte Lake State Park only contained four or five other campers. The sign pointing to a boat ramp lead to a massive parking lot.
Totally deserted. Instead of ending at the lake, the boat ramp led to a grassy field.
We drove over the cables meant to hold the floating dock and by the buoy to mark the no wake zone.
We drove in the ruts to the Rio Grande river.
Later, we discovered lake was at 5 percent capacity. The drought conditions meant that the lake did not receive the amount of rainfall it needed to replenish the lake levels. Plus, the water in the lake is also used by farmers to irrigate their land, so the farmers needed to take more of the water than they normally would. All of this led to the lake becoming dangerously depleted. Similar conditions are occurring at Lake Powell and The Great Salt Lake. Officials have been slow to respond to the crisis.
Our Personal Drought
Sometimes, we too can be slow to react when our inner resources get depleted. We expend energy in our jobs, our children’s extra-curricular activities, church activities, or community activities. Then, something happens like a drought that is out of our control: A sick parent needs our help. We have our own health crisis or lose a job. A global pandemic hits. The crisis takes what precious little resources we have left.
How do we replenish?
Here are a few suggestions if you find yourself needing to replenish your resources:
1. Take an inventory of all your activities.
Make a list of all of the places that demand your energy: people, church activities, social activities, etc. You might also consider doing a time audit. For a week, track how you spend every single hour.
2. Make life energy lists.
Emily P. Freeman has you create two different energy lists in her Next Right Thing Journal. I have found this practice to be very helpful.
First, you make a list of things that energize you, that replenish you, that make you feel better after you have done them. Notice I said after you have done them. You may not feel particularly good before or during exercise, but it probably makes you feel better after you have done it!
Then, make a list of things that take away energy—that make you feel emotionally or physically drained. You might not be able to make these lists off the top of your head. Every night over a couple of weeks, think over your day and add people and activities to these lists.
3. Analyze the information
Pray over the information. Ask the Lord to help you look at your lists with his eyes.
Consider what activities are absolutely necessary in this season of “drought.” For example, when I needed to take care of my mom as she battled terminal cancer, I had to say no to other opportunities, at least temporarily. I just didn’t have the time or energy to do them.
Consider how you can limit the amount of activities or people that drain you. Where can you set limits or boundaries in this area?
Consider how you can add as many life-giving people or activities to your list. Singing in choir definitely renews my energy and it also doesn’t create any pressure for me. So, I tried to make it to choir practice as often as I could during my mom’s illness.
4. Seek outside counsel
After you have gone thought through these factors, find a time to talk to a spouse, a trusted friend or pastor. With a more objective viewpoint, they might be able to see things you cannot. When faced with my mom’s diagnosis, my knee jerk reaction was to quit seminary or to get a certificate rather than a master’s degree. My husband wisely counseled me to keep going since I had less than a year left and to cut other areas.
Memory Verse
If you are in this season of needing to replenish, you might take time to meditate on this verse in Jeremiah. I am going to share it in a variety of translations.
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
Jeremiah 31:25 ESV
“For I [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.”
Jeremiah 31:25 Amplified Bible
“For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
Jeremiah 31:25 King James Version
” I’ll refresh tired bodies;
Jeremiah 31:25 The Message
I’ll restore tired souls.”
Final Thoughts
I read recently that the water level at Elephant Butte Lake is up to 14 percent. That is quite an improvement from last fall, but it still has a long way to go to be completely replenished. Likewise, you might need an extended time to replenish your resources after the crisis has passed. I talked about steps I took after my mother died in this post. Remember to give yourself grace in this season.
Just a reminder that these spiritual posts happen twice a month. The other two Saturdays I put out a Substack newsletter instead. I have also been sending out some scripture meditation videos. The next issue will be looking at the theme of replenishing a little more in depth. I will share some quotes, as well as a playlist that goes with the theme because God always seems to use music to speak to me. Provide your email below if you are interested in receiving it. May God refresh you on your travels this week!