Fulfillment

Filling Our Emptiness

The feeling of emptiness is contrary to God's design for us. Yet millions of people go through life feeling empty. Jesus' account in John 4:3-18 with the Samaritan woman teaches several important points about fulfillment.

• First, filling our emptiness is important to the Lord. A Jew would bypass Samaria because of their intense hatred for its inhabitants, Yet Jesus, a Jew, chose to travel there because He knew of a hurting Samaritan was ready to hear about the Father's love. Women normally came in groups to draw water from the well. However, her coming at the sixth hour may indicate her public shame because of her lifestyle. (John 4;6) 
• Our attempt at happiness often leave us feeling hopeless. The woman had been married five times, but all of her marriages failed. We are not told why, for in the culture in which she lived, men could divorce their wives for any reason at all. Most likely, with each broken relationship, she was left feeling lonelier than before.
• God knows our pain. When the woman admitted she didn't presently have a husband, Jesus revealed that He already knew she and the man living with her were not married. By demonstrating His awareness of her hurt, He helped the woman recognize her need for a Savior.
• Jesus can satisfy or yearnings. Once Jesus had show the Samaritan woman what was missing, He revealed to her how to live a full life. "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst." (John 4: 13-14)

Lord, help us to see the need in our life for a Savior. Help us to stop searching for love and happiness in the things of this world and look to the one who can fill our yearnings. Lord, I thank you that you alone can fill the emptiness in our life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen