Key Scripture
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” — Jeremiah 2:13 (NKJV)

Reflection

There was a time when I only wanted peace—a moment to breathe without the noise in my head. Weed, music, movies, and endless scrolling became my small escapes. Each one promised relief; each one left me emptier. What I thought were “breaks” from pressure were really broken wells that couldn’t hold the living water my soul needed.

I knew for years that the highs were hollow, yet I felt too weak to fight the voices of pressure and self-criticism. I kept telling myself I could handle it—that one day discipline or knowledge would fix me. But nothing silenced the restlessness.

Then came the moment of grace: during a time I called meditation, I saw Jesus. Not a vision of my mind, but a Presence that flooded the room with peace I’d never known. It wasn’t another escape; it was the end of escaping. All the striving, self-pity, and punishment faded in one truth—only Jesus heals what the world numbs.

Today’s Steps

• Identify one “escape” you turn to when life feels too heavy. Bring it to God in prayer instead of hiding it.
• Read John 4:10-14 and picture the living water Jesus offers in place of the broken cisterns of the world.
• When the urge to numb arises, whisper, “Jesus, You are my rest.”

Prayer

“Lord, You know the ways I’ve tried to quiet my pain without You. Thank You for meeting me even in the middle of my escapes. Teach me to drink from Your living water and find my peace in You alone. Amen.”

Journal Prompt

What “broken cisterns” do you still run to for comfort? How could you invite Jesus into those moments instead of running from Him?