A Woman Who Leaves Her Jar at the Well
In pray-paring to share Wednesday’s blog post for staff worship, I was drawn to John 4:28 (NLT)
“The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone…“
and it hit me that I want to be a woman who leaves her jar at the well.
I don’t carry a literal jar, of course. But do I ever lug an agenda to the well!
An agenda I fill to overflowing with ways to meet my needs.
An agenda under which I stagger a bit more with each step.
An agenda brimming with plans for
- trying hard so that I’ll be seen as competent by my colleagues.
- trying hard so that I’ll keep my bosses happy.
- trying hard so that my kids will be well-adjusted.
- trying hard so that my marriage will survive.
I want to be a woman who leaves her jar at the well.
Who encounters Jesus, talks with Jesus, listens to Jesus, and leaves without her agenda…
…because in my excitement, I’ve forgotten all about it!
…because if I bring it, I can’t possibly run fast enough!
…because I’ve given it to Him to use as He sees fit.
I want to be a woman who leaves her jar at the well.
Too many times, I’ve tried the running-with-the-full-jar routine.
Tripped.
Fallen.
Landed soaking wet, among broken shards. Too many times.
I want to be
a wife
a mother
a teacher
who leaves her jar at the well.
Who runs pell-mell to town, calling, “Come see! Come see! Come see!”
because I can’t wait for
my husband
my children
my students
to hear
Jesus
and know
Jesus
for themselves.
Your Turn:
- What does it mean for you to “leave your jar at the well”?
- What does “trying so that” look like in your life?
- What might living “because” look like instead?
- Anything else on your heart!
Yes! Cheri..Thanks for linking up at my blog and I agree…I want to leave myself at the well so I can run and tell others. Love this post!
Amen. I too want to leave my jug and feel the freedom. I agree with the earlier posts…great writing.
Thank you my friend for visiting and linking to the Saturday’s Sister to Sister linkup. I appreciate your contribution.
One of the most profound blog posts I’ve read all year long. This absolutely meets my heart cry! Thank you for writing this and laying this out so plainly. This is the woman I want to be to my family!!!
I’ve been a “trying so that” woman for so long I can’t even fully comprehend grace! And I’ve loved Jesus for most of my life. But not like this. I’ve carried my jar around like a burden. Like a chain. Like a weapon…
Awesome post!!!
Thank you for our Messiah!! Through your blog (that I stumbled upon bu accident–I do not think so) and the book Grace for the Good Girl, I have discovered that I indeed hide behind a mask of self protection and people pleasing. So when I leave my jar at the well, I would be leaving my need to constantly please others and accept the fact that no matter how hard I try I never can please all people all the time. My jar also contains my wall of self-protection from rejection. I realize I cannot fulfill my calling if I always keep others at arms length. Help me Lord Jesus to overcome these destructive habits!!! I can only do this through your power!!!
Cheri…until I started working looking into these areas with you I was not aware of just how much my perfectionist personality has been an issue in my life…ughh..I am beginning to wander about it..I mean..I know it is accurate..actually right on!..Just i do not know if I can do this..seems like all i will do is mess up..dee
Dee — I’m becoming more and more convinced that *I* can not do any of this. Fortunately, we serve a God who loves us, welcomes us, and transforms us! We are a mess — that’s why we need a messiah!