At the Well of Contentment

You know this woman. It is likely you have read her story so many times she no longer speaks to you. Perhaps you feel disconnected from her life circumstance. Her life is a distant problem and your life is a sharp contrast to everything she is.

Let’s take another look. Possibly we will find we are not so different after all.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

This woman, a Samaritan, is astonished to realize a Jewish man is speaking with her. The brilliance of Jesus in this scene blows my mind. Jesus crosses over the cultural barriers of the time. He still does this today.

Jesus and the woman begin to talk about the ancient well and the water therein.

He says to the woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

The woman replies, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

Jesus turns serious here. He says to her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

Why did Jesus say this? We know from scripture she is divorced for the fifth time and currently living with a man who is not her husband. Do you think Jesus wanted to expose her guilt? I think, perhaps He wanted to expose her thirst. Jesus helps her to realize her attempts to find satisfaction have left her with an ever-growing thirstiness.

Each marriage was a new taste of sweet wine. Each suspended her deep longing, at least for a time. In the end, each failed to quench her thirst and left her desiring ….something else.

You and I are not so different from this woman. We also struggle with longing, restlessness, dissatisfaction, and yearning. Even though we know Jesus, we still can feel a restlessness rise up in us from time-to-time. If only I could loose a few pounds, I know I would be happy. If only I had a new home, I would finally be happy. If only my husband…. If only my mother-in-law….If only…If only….If only…..

Jesus does not come to condemn us and riddle us with guilt. His desire is to help us realize our own hidden longings which keep us bound in knots. He wants to free us from dissatisfaction and give us a life of contentment.

I am a visual learner with a vivid imagination. I hope you can imagine the following scene. Imagine yourself walking into your kitchen and there, standing by the sink is Jesus. He is wearing a white robe and holding a crystal clear glass of water.

You stop in your tracks and stare, daring not to move. He smiles. You relax and return His gaze. He holds up the glass and speaks your name then says, “I have come to give you freedom today. Surrender to me your secret longing and I will give you a carefree day of glorious living. Drink up!”



Can we see ourselves in this story? Are we truly drinking the living, sustaining, satisfying water, or sneaking a sweet wine substitute?

Let's take our longings before the throne, Jesus is waiting to meet us there.

Please stop in for a visit at my place: Spiritually Unequal Marriage.