"So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, "Come see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"
We all have a water jar. A place we turn to to satisfy our needs, provide security, or fulfill our desires. The Samaritan woman was no different. She carried her water jar up to Jacob’s well, presumably often, alone in the heat of the day. That’s the thing about water jars: they never stay full for long. They demand to be filled time and time again.
I bet the Samaritan woman never anticipated what she would find at the well that day. She went to the well to fill her water jar, but left her water jar at the well. What she found was far greater than anything that jar could offer.
At The Pregnancy Network, we get to be a well for the women of our community. We empower women by offering free medical services, educational classes, material resources, and an opportunity to find community through the Connect program. It is a privilege and a joy to offer these services. But, we recognize that just like Jacob’s well, the services we offer cannot ultimately satisfy the deepest need of the women we serve – the need for the Gospel.
Consider what Jesus says to the Samaritan woman:
Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
Any services, resources, or support we can offer the women of our community will fall short of fulfilling every woman’s need for a Savior.
"The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."
Only when we see the grace and truth that Jesus brings are we freed to leave behind what we thought would satisfy our needs, provide security, or fulfill our desires. Only by accepting the love of Christ are we empowered to leave our water jars behind.
The Power of Partnering: Empowering Women Holistically
Above any physical need women have, their highest need is spiritual; a relationship with Jesus. When you partner, you provide women with the opportunity to receive care for their physical health, emotional health, and spiritual health. Click the button below to learn more about opportunities to pray, serve, and give.
Sources:
Keller, T., & Keller, K. (2011). The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God. Penguin Books.
Chloe Boyle
Chloe is the Communications Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network.