Do you feel irreparably broken?
A few minutes of watching the news or scrolling social media reminds me that I don’t hold a monopoly on brokenness. There is pain, devastation and destruction in every corner of our world. Famines, droughts, floods, fires, storms, earthquakes, and every other form of natural disaster plagues this planet. War, disease, bigotry, violence and death show no mercy. Accidents and addictions end lives and upend families without prejudice. Sin ravages homes and devastates us all.
Everything seems incredibly, irreparably broken.
One of my favorite Jesus stories begins at such a time, in such a place, with such a woman. Her life was marked by loss, rejection, loneliness and failure. Everyone else saw this nameless woman as someone who was broken beyond hope. I imagine she saw herself that way, as well.
But not Jesus.
The Lord saw her as a precious girl who was hurting and seeking wholeness, and He was “moved with compassion.” So much so, that He broke all the rules in order to reach her. John 4:4 says Jesus needed to go through Samaria. Needed! Why? For this broken woman and her people.
So, Jesus met her at Jacob’s well in the heat of the day. In fact, He waited for her. She came for water, but Jesus knew she had a much deeper need. She was trying to quench a thirst for hope and peace with water that would never satisfy. In great love, He offered this girl—once defined by brokenness—the only thing that can quench a parched soul, mend a broken vessel, and and satisfy a longing heart.
He offered her Himself.
Suddenly, she forgot she was even thirsty! She dropped her water pitcher and ran to tell the very people who broke her that the Messiah had come!
“Many Samaritans believed” because of her testimony.
That’s what happens when a thirsty person finds water. She can’t wait to tell other thirsty people where to find it. And when that water is God, Himself, untold millions are dying of thirst.
Yes, we have all been broken in some way. Some through our own choices. Some through the choices of others. Some through things beyond anyone’s control. We live in a sin-broken world, where pain is an inevitable part of the journey. But there is good news!
Our Savior was broken so that we might be made whole. He felt pain and loss and rejection and devastation—all for us. He draws near to the broken, is moved with compassion, and tenderly offers healing.
We don’t need to be defined by our brokenness, friend. There is no broken too broken for Jesus. No one is irreparable. He—and only He—can mend our shattered lives and meet our deepest needs. Oh, how He wants to! He’s seeking us out, saying, “Let everyone who is thirsty, come.”
Come broken, dear valley-walker.
Living Water awaits.
🩷 Audra