One Saturday I drove to a nearby bakery thinking that a piece of gooey cake would soften my deep loneliness. 

When the shop assistant said, ‘We’ve sold out’, I left with my emotions out of control. Back at home, I realised I had tried to supply a spiritual need with a physical solution. Although I had chosen my ways over God’s ways for too long, I cried out to him that night. I was amazed at how quickly I felt his presence, peace and love.

I suddenly identified with the woman in John 4. John didn’t give her a name; she was just ‘a Samaritan woman’. 

When Jesus spoke to her about living water, she said to him, ‘Give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here’ (John 4:15, NIV). 

At first she didn’t understand that Jesus spoke of spiritual water, but the longer he talked, the more convinced she was that he was the Messiah. 

Leaving her water jar, she ran to tell the people in Sychar about a man who knew all about her.

 

In a similar way, God’s peace that Saturday night inspired me to return to a community of faithful people. I went back to church and began reading my Bible. I found the courage I needed to share with others how God had comforted me.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us and changing us into who you want us to be. Amen