I have a gardening analogy..
Having a relationship with the Lord is like being planted in the earth. We draw on and rely on the Lord for sustenance. We cry out for rain. But we also know because our roots are in the soil, that we are grounded in Him..and our roots will go deep to find that water, so when there's a drought, we won't die. Thats the relationship.
For those who are new to the Lord, I think sometimes that relationship is like being in a plant nursery, in pots. Even inside a greenhouse The plants totally rely on the gardener for water and shelter and sustance, but they are only in the nursery to get to a good start, THEN they will be transplanted. They are not going to stay in their pots forever, because they will get rootbound and need constant watering, since their roots are only in the pot and they are not in the ground...and they won't grow very big either if left in their pot.
Good analogy. Now, what about those who have been planted for decades, and then find the water content in the soil too low to sustain them? They grow lethargic and numb to the soil where they're rooted...until they realize there's a problem. They don't know what to do to get water back into the soil for their roots to soak up the life-sustaining water. They tried prayer, even fasting, and to no avail. They continue to wither, their leaves dying and breaking off in the wind. They become acutely aware of the life ebbing out from them.
What then can we offer them that would bring nourishment to them to sustain them through the dry seasons of their lives, keeping in mind that it's not as easy as watering the soil for them. We don't have that power. We are not the those who tend the vineyard. Only He can provide what's needed. What then?
MM