Have you ever tried to quench your thirst with something that only left you feeling even more thirsty?
Maybe you thought a new relationship, a better job, or more success would finally bring you peace, but once you had it, you still felt empty.
You’re not alone.
In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and offers her something she never expected—living water.
She had spent years searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places, but nothing satisfied her. Sound familiar?
The Wells That Leave Us Thirsty
The Samaritan woman came to the well looking for physical water, but her deeper thirst wasn’t just about water—it was about her heart.
She had been married five times and was living with a man who wasn’t her husband. Maybe she was looking for security, love, or identity in those relationships.
We do the same thing today. Instead of running to Jesus, we run to:
- Success and career achievements
- Approval from others
- Money and material things
- Social media validation
- Relationships that were never meant to fill us
The problem? These wells always run dry. No matter how much we drink from them, they will never fully satisfy our souls.
Jesus Offers Living Water
Jesus told the Samaritan woman:
“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)
Jesus wasn’t offering her just another temporary fix. He was offering her Himself—the only One who can truly satisfy the deep longings of our hearts.
Unlike the wells of this world, His water never runs dry.
How to Stop Running to Empty Wells
So how do we stop chasing things that don’t satisfy and start drinking from the living water Jesus offers?
1. Recognize the empty wells in your life.
Ask yourself: What am I running to for fulfillment instead of Christ?
It could be approval, success, relationships, or even distractions like entertainment or busyness.
2. Bring your thirst to Jesus.
The Samaritan woman didn’t have to clean up her life before coming to Jesus. She just had to accept His invitation.
The same is true for us! We don’t have to fix everything first—we just have to come.
3. Drink deeply from God’s Word.
We stay spiritually hydrated by spending time in Scripture, prayer, and worship.
The more we fill ourselves with God’s truth, the less we crave the things that don’t satisfy.
4. Let your life overflow.
After encountering Jesus, the Samaritan woman ran back to her village to tell everyone about Him (John 4:28-29).
When we drink from the living water, we can’t help but share it with others!
Reflection
We all have a choice: Keep running to empty wells, or drink from the living water that never runs dry.
Jesus is inviting you today. Will you accept His offer and stop running to things that can’t satisfy?
- What are the “empty wells” you’ve been turning to for fulfillment?
- How can you seek living water in your daily life?
- Who in your life needs to hear about the satisfaction only Jesus can bring?
Lord, I confess that I’ve been running to things that don’t truly satisfy. Help me to stop chasing after temporary things and instead drink deeply from Your living water. Fill my heart with Your peace and satisfaction so that I no longer thirst for anything less than You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Are you ready to stop running to empty wells? Jesus is waiting for you at the well—come and drink!
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Looking for some Bible study worksheets specifically for studying the Women of the Bible? Take a deeper dive into these amazing women with these simple study lessons.
