Flapper
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Until recently, I was not familiar with the inner workings of a toilet. But after a couple of weeks of one of our toilets running intermittently, I decided to do some research to figure out what could be causing it. After reading on Google, I discovered that there were two possible sources of this intermittent running: the refill valve or the flapper.
I removed the top of the toilet tank and observed that both apparatuses appeared to be working correctly. So, I decided to start with the flapper. A toilet flapper is a small, often overlooked component that controls the flow of water from the tank into the bowl. When it works properly, it seals the tank, holds back water, and only releases water when the toilet is flushed. But when it's faulty, the toilet runs constantly or intermittently, resulting in wasted water and higher water costs.
After watching a YouTube video, I went to Home Depot and made a $15 purchase, came home, drained the water out of the tank, and replaced the flapper. It worked! We no longer had intermittent running. The small trickles of water could no longer escape from the tank. When I examined the flapper I had removed, it was worn and weakened around the edges. It was faulty. The flapper is a small piece, but its malfunction affected the whole toilet function. It was not serving its purpose.
Just as the broken flapper allowed constant leakage (even if it was a small trickle), our spiritual lives can ‘leak’ if we are not practicing disciplines to keep us connected and close to the Lord. Without practices such as regular prayer, time in the Word, and rest, we will feel drained, spiritually weak or dry, or constantly distracted. During these times, Satan can get a hold in our lives. And, he is out to destroy us.
Small neglected areas in our lives, such as a lack of focus on the Lord, pride, bitterness, regret, and ingratitude, can disrupt our spiritual health and keep us from experiencing the abundant life found in Christ and serving our purpose of sharing Jesus with the lost world. When we are not functioning as God intended, we may become a distraction for others and a turn-off to those who are not believers.
Take a look at what happened with David. Read 2 Samuel 11. David stayed in Jerusalem during wartime instead of being in the battle. He was idle at home, and maybe even bored. He looked upon Bathsheba and lusted after her. It didn’t stop there. He sought to find out about her and sent for her. Then, he slept with her, and she became pregnant. When his attempt to make it look like the baby was Uriah’s (Bathsheba’s husband) failed, he had him killed. He let his guard down. He allowed ‘leaks’ into his life. His sins snowballed! And, those actions impacted many people. We can learn much from this story!
A continuously or intermittently running toilet is noisy, wasteful, and costly. When our heart and mind are not at rest in God, we are restless and have too much inner noise, such as worry, busyness, and thoughts that are not of the Lord. Luke 5:15-16 tells us that Jesus withdrew from the crowds that pressed in on Him to reset and rest. There were many other examples of Jesus doing this. We can stop any ‘spiritual leak’ by doing the same.
Upon my initial glance into the toilet tank, and when flushing the toilet and observing, everything appeared to be working. But, it wasn’t. How often do we attempt to look the part of a Christian but have habitual sin in our lives where our talk and walk do not align? Our words do not mean much if our actions do not back them up. Also, how often do we attempt to make things look okay when they’re not? Sometimes, it’s okay not to be okay. That is when and why we need each other.
Maintaining a healthy spiritual life involves regular inspection, maintenance, and repair, just like with a toilet. If left unchecked, we can find ourselves in greater dysfunction and further removed from the Lord and from those closest to us. Let’s do some self reflection today and then take steps to fix the ‘leaks’ we find.
On a side note, it's never too late to learn new things. So, challenge yourself today to do something hard that you didn’t think you could do.
Call to Action
Sit quietly for 10 minutes without music, phones, or distractions. What did God reveal to you about ‘leaks’ in your life that are draining you spiritually and otherwise?
What discipline or spiritual habit do you need to incorporate into your life?
Where have your actions impacted others in a not-so-good way? How can you make this right?
Digging Deeper
Proverbs 25:28, Psalm 1:1-2, Matthew 15:8, Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 9:27. There are numerous stories of people in the Bible who allowed ‘leaks’ in their lives that led to decisions that impacted others and led to heartache and hurt: Jacob when he deceived his father for the birthright and blessing; Abraham and Sarah when they did not wait on the Lord to provide a child but went to Hagar; Judas when he betrayed Jesus; Peter when he denied Christ. Choose one or more of these to read and take note of something you learned to apply to your life.
Prayer
God, inspect my heart and reveal to me the ‘leaks.’ Make me whole and help my life to flow with purpose, praise, and peace.
Copyright © 2025 Kyle Cravens
