John 4:14 and the Sugarcane plant
Sugarcane juice is a common thirst-quencher that is available to us. Emily Seck shares how she was inspired by this plant as she meditated on John 4:14, and the God who quenches our thirst.
“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:14)
This month’s artwork features the vibrant Sugarcane plant (Saccharum officinarum) – a tall, jointed grass known for its sweet, juice-filled stalks. Found in tropical regions and local hawker centres alike, sugarcane is often enjoyed as a refreshing drink – cool, sweet, and deeply satisfying on a hot day.
For me, this plant carries memories of childhood – of following my dad to the tennis court, picking up tennis balls, and cooling off together afterward with a frosty mug of sugarcane juice from the hawker centre. Those moments were simple, refreshing and full of love – I never expected those ordinary days to lead to future inspiration.
In John 4, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well and offers her something far more satisfying than physical water: living water, welling up to eternal life. He gently meets her in her brokenness and longing – and offers her Himself.
This month, as our church reflects on God's design for men and women, I find myself wrestling – with sorrow, with hope, with love for friends walking different paths, and with questions about my own role as a woman in today’s world and within the Church. These are tender spaces. But in them, I return to this truth: Jesus is my source. He sees, He knows, and He fills with true joy, security and hope that can only be found in Him.
Just as sugarcane refreshes the body on a hot day, Christ offers a deeper refreshment for the soul – a source of grace and strength that never runs dry. He meets us not only in moments of clarity but also in our confusion, our grief, and our wrestling.
You may find sugarcane growing in edible gardens or sold at drink stalls at hawker centres here in Singapore. The next time you see or sip it, may it remind you of the Living Water – of Jesus’ invitation to come to Him with all our thirsts, questions, and longings.
May this artwork inspire you to rest in the truth that in Christ, we are fully seen, fully known, and deeply loved. And in Him, our hearts can find lasting refreshment.
Click on the image to download a copy! Feel free to use on your phones as a wallpaper.