Something or someone to make you and me feel better. To make us feel we belong. Someone to keep us from feeling so sad inside all the time. Empty. Many of us aren’t all that thrilled with how we’ve turned out or where we are in our lives right now.  

Why?

We have a house with a nice back yard. A car or two in the garage. Pretty clothes falling off their hangers in our closets. More shoes stacked in the shoe tree than we could possibly wear in a month.

Even more.

We get to go on fancy vacations. Spend the summer at the lake and the winter in Mexico. We can go horseback riding, scuba diving and skiing at the drop of a hat. Hop in the car and off we go to do that thing of our heart’s desire. We are rich in our experiences and so the advertisements say – “If you dream it, you can do it!” It only takes a credit card.

Let’s talk about cravings. We can eat anything we want. The stores are crammed full of all kinds of food types. A whole aisle dedicated to breakfast cereal alone. Wow! No wonder I walk into the grocery store and come out frustrated when they don’t have my very own special cereal – especially for me. The whole aisle is cereal – where is mine?

Our world has exploded with a “foodie” culture. And here too, whatever you can dream, you can have it. Grapefruit beer. Maple bacon donuts. Basil lavender ice-cream.

It’s all so intoxicating.

Why, then, are we so discontent?

Let’s look at a story of a discontent woman.

The story of the woman at the well is probably one of the most loved stories in the Bible. There are many hidden treasures in her story so most likely when I read it again, I’ll find another gem to write about. For today, I’m writing about her because she was looking for something like so many of us are.

The woman at the well could be any one of us and perhaps this is why we can relate to her so easily. When she leans over the well to dip her jug into the water, she sees her reflection looking back. Sad eyes. Downturned lips. Worry wrinkles gathering on her forehead. In my mind’s eye, I can imagine myself looking back from that pool of water. Have you ever looked in your own mirror at home and wondered who that woman is looking back at you? I have.

WHO IS SHE?

She was at the well mid-day, the hottest time. She was there alone. The other women had already come and gone – their water jugs filled for the day. Nobody wanted anything to do with her. Gossiped about and rejected by the other women in the village. She didn’t have a friend. She was an outcast. Unwelcome.  

She’d been married five times. Five times she was dumped. Five times rejected. Five times given the message: – “You’re not good enough.” She was now living with the sixth man. In those ancient times, this wasn’t a good position to be in because it went against the laws and the societal norm. She was an outcast.

Here’s a thought – perhaps our friend at the well had left five times. Maybe she was the one who wanted out. Maybe she’d had enough of her husbands – all five of them. Whatever the case may be, she was constantly looking for the next guy to validate her and to see and hear her. Many of us women don’t feel seen or heard either.

So is this what she thought…

Maybe this new man will make me feel better about myself?

 Do you put that kind of pressure on the people you are in relationship with? Your spouse? Children? Parents? Your best girlfriend?

A CONVERSATION

“Will you give me a drink?” John 4:7 NIV

There’s a man at the well that day. A man who shouldn’t have been there.

“Will you give me a drink?” He asks.

He shouldn’t have asked her for this favour either. Why?

 She set him straight. She told the man exactly the situation between her tribe and his tribe. “We don’t mingle.” The history between the two nations had separated them with no reconciliation in sight. Jews and Samaritans were opposed to each other.

But this man talked to her – a lowly woman and a foreign enemy. And so, a conversation began between her and Jesus over something as basic as a cup of water.

She led the conversation away from herself every time he brought up something uncomfortable. Now, that’s something I do when conversations get too intimate. I’m a private person so I don’t like everybody knowing everything about me. Now, hasn’t God put me in an interesting position – I’m writing books revealing the goriest details of my life and, me being so private.

He will use the weakest…

After she skirted the issue of the five husbands and her sinful life of living with a sixth, Jesus says to her that he is what she is looking for.

“…but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never be thirsty again.” John 4:13 & 14 tPt

When Jesus said this to her, He revealed for the first time that He is the Messiah everyone had been waiting for. Even more, He revealed to her He was her very own personal Messiah. He was standing in front of her, tired and thirsty, speaking with her, and drinking water. His message was even more profound than I’ve believed for in the past. He was making Himself real to her.

He wasn’t a highfaluting, religious type looking down upon her with judgement and loathing. No, no, no! He was standing right there in front of her with dusty feet and a sweaty brow announcing He is the Messiah that everyone is waiting for and more importantly:

“… I am the One you’re looking for.” John 4:26 tPt

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

She believed in Jesus and with such deep delight that she left her water jug behind and ran into the village to tell everyone about Him. She became the first person – an outcast woman – to spread the news that The Messiah had come. Her countenance had changed so dramatically that the villagers ran to the well to see for themselves. Now, after seeing her changed, they gave her the time of day, when previously they couldn’t stand the sight of her. What a miracle she was! Many villagers believed in Him that day and began to follow Him. They convinced Him to stay for two more days and many more became followers. It seems to me she was the first person to win a whole city (Sychar) to Christ.

Can you believe it is possible to be loved by Jesus? Because He is real and Available to you right now.

I am living water. Drink of me. I’ll take away your thirst forever. No longer will you need to look to others to give you what they can’t give you. They were never meant to give you the love that I give to you – they simply can’t do it. With my love, you’ll never be thirsty again.