Wholeness Pt 3: Deeper Dive Thirsty

Word of Wisdom Pt 2 Destination Disease (Deeper Dive)

Recently, I binge watched episodes from previous seasons of Married at First Sight, a show about modern day arranged couples who are introduced to each other on their wedding day. They spend eight weeks together and then decide whether they want to stay married or get a divorce. Oftentimes the women are overly excited to end the misery of their singlehood with hopes of spending their life with a companion. They’re thrilled to show off their other half and brag about being married. But they’re often disappointed because their partner is not as enthused, or there are red flags. In these cases, the bride feels empty inside.

Expecting a spouse to provide happiness or bring fulfillment is breeding grounds for desolation. We must be whole before pursuing a significant other. Our soul and spirit need to be healthy before connecting our lives with another person, especially if we’re seeking a life partner. I heard it said that the worst kind of loneliness is feeling lonely inside a marriage. Expecting a spouse to rid loneliness, make us happy, or otherwise fulfill us, is a setup for dejection.

In this study, we’ll meet a Samaritan woman who erroneously thought marriage would solve her problems. She’d been married five times and lived with a man she wasn’t married to. She met Jesus at Jacob’s well in a town of Samaria and had a life-changing experience! Jesus’ solution for her was wholeness.

Wholeness encompasses physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness. In our study we’ll take a look at how Jesus made her whole by changing all three dimensions of her life: spirit, soul, and body. We’ll learn how to receive wholeness in our own lives as well.

This is part two of the wholeness series. If you haven’t read the first post on wholeness, you may access it here.

The Woman at the Well (John 4:5-42)

John 4:16-19 Amplified Bible

At this, Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and come back.” The woman answered, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I do not have a husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your husband. You have said this truthfully.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I see that You are a prophet.

The Samaritan woman was trying to fill the God-sized voids in her life with men, but apparently this wasn’t working because she didn’t stay married to any of them. She was unsuccessfully attempting to satisfy her thirst. She knew something was missing, but she didn’t know how to satisfy the emptiness. How many of us have been in that place?

The urban dictionary defines thirsty as “too eager to get something; desperate.” While this eagerness is typically for sex, the urban dictionary points out that someone could be eager to get compliments, validation, attention, etc.

The Samaritan woman was ashamed to visit the well when the other women would have been there, either in the morning or evening when it was cool. She went to draw water during the sixth hour (noon) when it would’ve been hottest. But there, Jesus waited for her! Though He was exhausted and parched from his journey (because it was very hot), He poured into her living water to fill the emptiness in her soul and spirit!

God had a gift of living water (wholeness) for the Samaritan woman. Jesus promised (John 4:14) that whoever drinks the living water that He gives will satisfy their spirit, soul, and body:

• spirit (eternal life)

• soul (continual internal spring of water)

• body (never thirst)

The Samaritan woman asked for that water (John 4:15) and received it (Matthew 7:11)! She was made whole.

• Spirit: She communed with God! The spirit is the only part of the human trinity (spirit, soul, and body) that can connect with God. Her spirit must have revived during her conversation with Jesus. When she realized that she’d met the Christ, she shared her testimony and brought others from her town to meet Jesus (John 4:25-26, 28-30, 39-42)!

• Soul: Jesus healed her soul so she wouldn’t keep running from one man to another trying to fill the void. Her soul was freed from shame. She went back to her town unashamedly telling everyone about Jesus! She returned to the men (John 4:28 NKJV). We don’t know if these were her previous five husbands and her sixth man. What if she went to get closure from the five ex-husbands and brought her sixth man to Jesus in obedience (John 4:16).

• Body: After the Samaritan woman returned to her village to tell the people about Jesus, I don’t think she would have returned to continue her escapades with different men. What if the sixth man married her and they lived a fulfilling life together? If the Samaritan woman did bring him to Jesus, then they both would’ve enjoyed wholeness.

Her encounter with Jesus brought wholeness. Jesus healed her soul of the thirst that kept her running from one man to another. She must have felt secure in knowing that she’d met the Messiah! This was all the validation she needed, and she was no longer thirsty. Though she was unaware of her need for the living water (wholeness) through Jesus, He knew precisely how to meet her at her point of need in confidence. He wants the same for us!

Summary

In this account of the serial monogamist who was thirsty for men the Samaritan woman was not going to be satisfied until she achieved what she set out for. Though she originally set out to obtain water, she didn’t realize that wholeness through Jesus was what she actually needed.

I’m sure that after the fact, she wished she’d pursued wholeness sooner. We, too, should endeavor to receive wholeness from God. No amount of money, material things, success, relational contacts, fame, sex, education, love, or adventure will make us feel complete. After accumulating all these things, we’d realize, it’s all meaningless. We learn this from King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1. He had everything his heart could desire, and at the end of his life, he said “It’s all meaningless!”

Prayer

Lord, thank You so much that You provide the wholeness we need. Thank You that we don’t have to search anywhere else to attempt to fill any voids in our lives. I pray that You will help us invite You into each and every area of our lives. Help us build an intimate relationship with You so we’ll experience Your living water (wholeness) welling up in us to eternal life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Exercise

Is there anything or anyone you’re longing for? What or who is it? How will this accomplishment, item, or person improve your life? Will it (or they) make you whole?

Fun Fact

The average person can only survive about three days without water. Thirst is a warning that we don’t have enough water in our bodies. Without water, the body eventually stops working.

Bye Bye Heartbreak

Bye Bye Heartbreak explores four milestones to wholeness (acceptance, self-love, spiritual renewal, and new beginning) and inspires you with hope after breakup or divorce. Along with other soul- and spirit-nurturing actions, you’ll learn what wholeness is and how to:

· Rediscover who you are apart from your ex.

· Befriend yourself so you don’t feel lonely.

· Renew your spirit through intimacy with God.

· Take steps to create the life you want.

If you’re ready to wave bye-bye to the excruciating pain, regret, shame, and disappointment and create a new, delightful chapter of your life, this book is for you. Click on the following book title to access Bye Bye Heartbreak.

Resources

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/stop-chasing-success-start-enjoying-life/