Dry Wells

October 24, 2018

Every preacher with more than a few sermons under his (or her) belt knows the feeling of trying to draw water from a dry well. Sunday after Sunday, we are called upon to slake the spiritual thirst of our congregations by pouring out what we’ve drawn from the well of God’s Word. Sometimes, no matter how vigorously we ply the handle, nothing happens. The well is dry. Or perhaps more accurately, the pump needs priming. Anyone who has tried to get water from a hand pump knows that water has to be poured down the well to soak the leathers till they swell and seal the casing. Without the prime, even a high capacity well will not give up its treasure. 

The Word of God is high capacity, but too often we get so busy that we forget to prime the pump with prayer and study. Sometimes even though we’ve studied hard and prayed long, we still come up dry. There are lots of reasons, but the result is the same: a weak, anemic sermon. 

Over the years, I’ve learned that a decent sermon takes a week or more to produce. Sermons are not meant to be fast food; they have to simmer, often for days at a time. My first approach to the week’s text usually doesn’t produce much. By midweek, I’m beginning to wonder and worry if I will have anything worthwhile to say. Prayer intensifies. But when I persist, sooner or later there is a breakthrough, and the pieces start falling into place. 

I suspect the same happens in most worthwhile endeavors. There are few overnight successes. “Good luck” is usually found at the end of years of long days and sleepless nights, blood, sweat, and tears. I am grateful to have lived long enough to learn this lesson, and for the countless times God has proven faithful when I have done the same. And when I haven’t.