There are important life lessons we can learn from rivers. These lessons can greatly help us along our journeys with God. If we pay careful attention, they can ignite our candles with hope and keep them burning on.
I share a very close relationship with Rivers. One of my usual activities is to pay them a visit to meditate and pray. I love to listen to the waters rushing against the rocks, singing a soothing melody of praise unto the Great Creator.
It is a beautiful sight to watch the sunshine bask upon the surface of these often still waters. This glistening is Godical (filled with God). There were times I use to watch the birds diving into the river to fetch fish. These special moments I can never forget.
I’ve also often dreamt about the River. Some of my most wonderful and peaceful dreams are when I dream about the pure gentle flow of water. It reminds me of the scripture that says:
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38
If you have ever been by the river side then you will begin to understand what I mean. If you have not, I invite you to take a moment to experience such sensation. Maybe then you will hear what the river is saying.
In this blog post I want to discuss some of the life lessons we can learn from the river. I believe that every aspect of the nature is filled with the power and the glory of God specially formulated to inspire us with life. Let’s look at them.
6 IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE RIVER
1. Keep Moving No Matter What
Rivers teach us to keep moving no matter what. Nothing or no one can stop the flow of the river except God who made it. Men will try suppress it, yet the river is so resilient that it will mostly continue its flow. It will breach barriers and continue along its way.
As we move along, many things will try to stop us from moving forward. There are people and circumstances that will want to arrest us but we can never allow them to do this. We should be like the river and keep flowing no matter what.
I have personally had to employ this strategy many times in my life. There have been circumstances that have tried to stop my flow, but what I have learnt is that like a river I have to keep flowing on. I have had to forget the things that are behind me, and look forward to the roads ahead – while I press.
The river will erode the things in its path that want to stop it. This might take some time but we see that the river is very patient in continuing. It continues to move and to erode and to press. As people of God, we should learn this great trait.
We should make up our minds that regardless of what comes to defeat us, we will build resilience and get tougher as the going gets tough.
2. There is more beneath the surface
Consider some of the most gigantic rivers and notice that you cannot see beyond their surfaces. Yet, the major portion of the life and fruitfulness of these bodies lie beneath them. This means that if we are to truly explore them we’ll have to delve beneath their surfaces.
This is the same with us as we interact with each other. When you meet someone, what you see is the surface of that individual. This surface might look attractive but the true person is beneath the surface.
We can only know someone if we can delve beneath their surface and see their heart. Yet this is not very possible as only God can see the heart. Nonetheless, when we understand this great principle it will make us wiser in our interactions with others.
God Looks At The Heart
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7
When Samuel invited Jesse to a sacrifice ordered by the Lord, Samuel was tasked with selecting one of Jesse’s Sons as the New King of Israel. Jesse called his sons one by one for Samuel to select the chosen one.
Jesse chose his sons based on their outward appearance, thinking that their physical stature would be the qualifying factor. Yet God said to Samuel “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” Here we learn a very important lesson of God. God looks at the heart.
We should be careful in applying this principle in our lives. We should be keen to see beyond the surface and see the heart.
3. Sometimes Storms Can Make You Better
I grew up in Jamaica where we had many storms. There’s one thing I have learnt and it’s that a river will have to endure many storms and hurricane. I remember growing up in Lowe River, there was a small tributary behind our family house. Whenever we had a heavy shower of rain we could notice a big difference with this stream.
During heavy showers the water would overflow its banks and disturb the nearby vegetations. Yet after these showers the stream was washed of all debris and contamination. I noticed that these heavy showers removed dead vegetations and made way for new growth. In the end, the river became better because of the storms it endured.
This is among the many important life lessons we can learn from rivers. We must be fully convicted that our storms have come to make us better. During our storms we might be intimidated by the strong winds and the heavy water flow, but if we endure to the end then we will get to experience the after storm.
The after storm is filled with hope, life and new growth. It is good to endure because then you’ll get to experience this beauty of the after storm.
4. When It Comes To Important Life Lessons From Rivers, The River Teaches Us How To Support and Sustain Life
Rivers support diverse ecosystems and communities of plants, animals, and people along their banks. They remind us of the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of building and nurturing relationships in our own communities.
Rivers provide food and habitat for not only plants and animals but also for humans like you and I. We get food and water from the river. The river also helps us in various forms of transportation.
It is often said that water is life, which I believe to be very true. This statement is used to emphasize the importance of water. Our own bodies is a testament of this reality as up to 70% of the human body is made up of water.
5. Rivers Teach Us How To Be More Flexible and Adaptable
When it comes to the numerous life lessons we can learn from rivers, we can learn a thing or two about flexibility and adaptability. Rivers constantly adjust to changes in their environment, whether it’s a shift in terrain or fluctuations in water levels. The river does this in an aim to sustain itself and the life forms that it supports.
Similarly, in life, we must learn to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and challenges, embracing change rather than resisting it. It is easy to resist change, yet the river teaches us to embrace it and know that change for us is an act of God.
6. Rivers Teach Us How To Let Go
Rivers end up in oceans and seas. The river freely flows and lets go of its waters downstream. Imagine if the river holds to this constant flow of heavy waters. Consider that this would cause great flood and chaos.
Yet, the river teaches us how to let go of our turbulent flow in order to welcome new flow and to preserve ourselves. Just as rivers continually let go of water downstream, we can learn the value of releasing what no longer serves us, whether it’s negative emotions, past mistakes, or material possessions.
Letting go allows us to move forward unburdened and open ourselves up to new experiences and growth. The truth is that we have to let go of the past to release the great future ahead of us and the river teaches us to do this.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way:
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Samuel 16:7
For sure, we must let go of yesterday in order to welcome the new day that the Lord has made.
Final Thoughts
When God made rivers He knew the numerous benefits they would provide to us. These benefits are both physical and spiritual. Rivers teach us how to let go, and to keep moving no matter what.
It also teaches us about the importance of supporting the lifeforms around us and to adapt to the changes that we might experience. As we follow Christ, these are pivotal lessons that can buffer strength in us and help us to keep keeping on.
As we consider the important life lessons we can learn from rivers, may we be strong in the Lord and may rivers of living waters flow from us. Amen.