“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” John 4:5-6 (KJV)
Every time I read this passage, I love reliving how Jesus loved a certain Samaritan woman, sought her out, and ministered directly to her heart. He honored her by speaking to her about her spiritual questions and her desire to see the Messiah, as well as the emotional void in her soul. But there is one aspect I had always overlooked. I believe Jesus was doing more than getting ready to minister to the Samaritan woman. I believe He was also revealing the secret to overcoming spiritual weariness.
The Scripture says that Jesus was weary from His long journey from Judea on His way to Galilee so he stopped in Sychar in Samaria. Verse 6 says that “He sat thus.” The “thus” refers to him being in a wearied state. It also says he sat upon, or by, the well. Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Living God, Creator of the Universe was weary. It is no mistake that in this wearied state he chose to sit at the well. The well is where the water is. The well is where you refresh and wash yourself.
Jesus knew that when his physical body became weary, the one place to rejuvenate was at the well. The only place to refresh our spirits is at the well. As we go through life, we encounter hills that seem hard to climb, obstacles that we have to navigate, and climate changes to which we need to adjust. When we walk we can get weary, and that is when we need to sit and worship at the well. It is not enough to just walk up to it take a quick drink and be on our way…no, we need to sit and worship until we are filled.
“But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:23 (KJV)
Worship is one of the keys to overcoming spiritual weariness. The Samaritan woman, in order to divert attention from the sin in her life, begins to ask questions about who is worshipping correctly. Jesus flies right by her useless attempt at diversion, and gets to the real issue. He tells her that the location of the worshipper doesn’t matter, and he does not care to dispute doctrine, genealogy, or ideology. Jesus brings it out of the natural realm and into the realm where true worship takes place – in the Spirit. True worship happens when we sit ourselves down and position ourselves for a nice long siesta at the well of the Spirit and Truth. True worship takes time to rest and enjoy the presence of God, not just acknowledge it in passing.
If your journey has drained you, there is one solution: Sit at the well of the Spirit and worship the God who is seeking you! He longs to have you “sit a spell”, relax, and enjoy fellowship with Him without the rush and stress of the world around you. It is essential to visit the well daily and drink to overflowing.
Lord Jesus, I pray that you would remind me today to stop and sit down at the well of Your Spirit. I ask that you would help me to put aside all distractions, concerns and responsibilities that weary me, so that I may simply sit with you. Thank you for the refreshing and restoration that can only come by drinking deeply from the well of your presence. I love you Lord! Amen.
— Kristie Shuman
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