Written by my beautiful friend Misty Metcalf.
Question. Have you ever had a conversation with someone and had no idea who they were or their level of influence? Recently, I enrolled in a weekly small group at church. My first time attending, I had no idea where to go. I asked someone, and they mentioned that the pastor may know and pointed in the direction of two men. I had no idea who the pastor was. Suddenly, one of the men turned towards me and asked if he could help me. I said, “sure,” and he graciously walked me to my classroom. During our conversation, I never asked if he was the pastor and he never mentioned it. Later, I discovered that he was one of the pastors. Maybe, if I was certain that he was a pastor, I would have asked him more about the congregation’s history, how I might get involved, and what suggestions he has for someone who is new to the area. However, the conversation remained on the surface, as he escorted me around the church building.
While reading the account in John 4, when Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan woman, it occurred to me that at some point in the conversation, she had no idea who she was speaking with. Even after Jesus tells her, ‘“If you only knew the gift God has for you and whom you were speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water”’ (John 4:10). She doesn’t ask Him who he is but rather points out the obvious, you don’t have a bucket nor a rope, and the well is deep. And are you suggesting that you are greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us the well? Quickly, she surmised a list of His “can’t be’s.” But this doesn’t stop Jesus from declaring who He is and what He can do. By the end of their conversation, she is abandoning her jug, her reason for coming to the well, and running into town saying, ‘“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”’ (John 4:29). In other words, “I think I’ve found the Messiah, could this be true?”
If you read the account, you will see how her attitude and depth of conversation evolve from the moment they meet until she runs off to tell the town about Him. Maybe like me, you’ll ask yourself, “Do I approach Jesus like I don’t know him?” “Are my prayers lacking faith and full of can’t be’s?” If it is, something must change. Something needs to be addressed if you’re always approaching Jesus as you’ve never encountered Him before. It’s time to go back to your “well” experiences. Where Jesus revealed whom he is and exposed your deepest secrets. At the well, you will find the Messiah, the one who takes away the sins of the world. The One who gave you “beauty for ashes.”
Let’s try this. Before praying, take the time to reflect on who the Lord is and how He has shown you kindness. Then, begin praying from that place, the place of knowing and great assurance. I believe your approach will be different. You may even become like the woman at the well, bringing others to the place to encounter Him.
Prayer: Abba, Thank you for forgiving me of my sins. Thank you for the same kindness you have shown me, I can show others. You met me at a well of sin and forgave me, and now ask that I do the same. Father, please restore my faith in you where I have experienced discouragement. Take me back to the well of hope, joy, and confidence in you. I ask for more “well” experiences and may I go out and say, “Come and see someone who restored my soul!” In Jesus’ name, amen.
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