
We all have a longing in our soul. Some call it anxiety, restlessness, or a lack of fulfillment. But what if this longing had a purpose? Not to harm you, but for good? What if the ache wasn’t something ot fix, but something to be filled?
I’ve been a chaser for most of my life.
Settled never felt safe. The idea of contentment made me uncomfortable, almost like if I stopped chasing, I would miss something. Or worse, I might actually be happy, and then what?
Contentment felt like surrender. And I wasn’t ready for that.
So, I kept moving. I kept longing for more. I chased the next project. The new couch. The next big idea. A better routine. A more perfect body. I told myself, if I could just get there, then I would settle. Then I would finally feel peace.
But chasing became a cycle that trapped me in a strange comfort, living in my pain. I hated it, yet I found myself clinging to it, often creating it, because it felt predictable and that felt safe. And that’s when I realized I wasn’t chasing fulfillment. I was chasing control.
That’s why I see myself in the woman at the well. And why I believe God anchored John 4 over The Living Well. It is the very inspiration for this site and what I hope to help you with. To be a home where you can come and get filled. Not by striving. Not by self-improvement. But by Christ Himself.
Designed Longing
Words carry power. I’ve learned that some of the most sacred words, like longing, dependence, and surrender, have been misunderstood. We’ve understood and even lived them from the low side, leading to fearing these words.
On the surface, longing does look like dissatisfaction. But if you go a bit deeper, understanding the true design, longing is a holy tension. A yearning for or an inner stretching that is actually a gift, helping you not to settle for lesser things.
This longing was placed in us by God as a built-in reminder: You were made for more than this world can give.
Just as hunger signals the need for nourishment and thirst signals the need for water, longing signals the soul’s orientation toward something real and eternal. It’s not a design flaw but an invitation and reminder that we cannot fill ourselves.
If we could self-satisfy, if we could meet every need and calm every ache on our own, we would never go looking for Him. That’s the power of longing at work, the reminder that we are all dependent and connected.
So, while longing can be painful, something we would rather escape, it serves a purpose. You were not created to just “exist.” You were designed to belong, to live fully, connect deeply and be truly filled.
That’s exactly what we see in John 4 and the mission of The Living Well.
The Woman at the Well: A Framework for Our Longing
In the story of the woman at the well, as told in John 4, we see a woman who returns day after day to the same well, yearning for something more yet living unsatisfied. Many criticize her for having multiple husbands, but I believe the deeper issue runs far beneath these choices.
Deeper beyond our human eyes and into the space God wants to work – the root that deals with our identity and our need to belong, to feel whole, to connect. And in the short encounter we read about in John 4, we find that Jesus didn’t just offer her water. He touched each one of those longings of the human soul.
Here are 4 lessons we can learn from the woman at the well.
1. The Samaritan woman scheduled her day to avoid her deepest pains (longing to be known):
She scheduled her life around her pain, yet Jesus met her anyway.
“And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, tired from his journey, sat beside the well. It was noon. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria.” John 4:4-9
This Samaritan woman, who found herself drinking at the well with the Savior of the world, frequented this well at this hour on purpose. Samaria was a desert town, and the heat of the day was not the time to be filling up the jars of water.
She went to the well at the worst time of day to avoid being seen. Shame told her to hide, allowing the pain of her past to dictate her life.
Yet Jesus found her there.
I see so much of myself in her story. I relate to the woman who felt she didn’t measure up, who lived in her own brokenness, assuming she was too far gone to be seen or loved. Rather than confronting her reality, she arranged her life to avoid it. More for safety than for joy.
And yet, there Jesus was. Sitting by the well. Asking her for a drink, giving her space to be known just as she was.
The reality He reveals is clear:
- In God’s eyes, no one is too far gone.
- He has a purpose for each of us.
- He’ll never let us be alone.
- He is always right there.
The question remains: are you willing to engage Him? Are you willing to show up, even in your hiding, and let Him meet you?
2. She stayed with Jesus (longing to belong):
She stayed with Jesus because he was unfazed by her past. He brought comfort and presence into a place she likely thought was unapproachable, offering her a sense of belonging in a place that had previously rejected her.
If I had been in her shoes, with her history and shame, I probably would have turned and walked away the moment I saw Him. I might not have even engaged. But she didn’t run, she stayed. She didn’t hide, but she lingered and even asked questions. She let herself be present, conversing with Jesus:
- How can you ask me for a drink?
- Where can you get this living water?
- Are you greater than our father Jacob?
John 4:9-12 says: “The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob?'”
I think she stayed because, deep down, she longed to be filled — not just with water, but with life, wholeness, and purpose. That longing pulled her forward, even when shame tried to hold her back.
Jesus met her longing fully. He didn’t shy away from her past; He saw her heart, her potential, and the beauty with which He created her. He offered her the living water that truly satisfies, proving that the soul’s thirst is meant for Him alone.
So I wonder: What would happen if you stayed a little longer? If you lingered in His presence, asking the questions that stir in your heart, even when it feels uncomfortable?
When you stay, you create the opportunity to be filled.
3. She received His filling (longing for identity):
Jesus offered the living water. And even more, he saw her fully, beyond the surface, beyond her past mistakes, and offered her a chance to be known for who she truly was.
She stayed with Jesus long enough to let Him meet her where she was. She didn’t just ask questions superficially, she inquired deeply, revealing her heart. And Jesus didn’t turn away. He met her and transformed her, changing her identity in an instant.
That cry in her heart, the anxiety, the unmet expectation, the unfulfilled stirrings, the sense that she didn’t measure up, all of it met God and was acknowledged. And he declared, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” (John 4:13-14).
When she asked, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty…,” she was stepping into the recognition that her identity mattered to God.
The gift of Jesus is a guarantee. He always sees you, and he’s always with you. The challenge is on our side, will we receive Him and allow Him to define who we are? Receiving isn’t passive. It’s a daily choice to step into the fullness of our true identity in Him.
You are designed to crave this. You are designed to long for this soul-satisfying filling. When you receive it, everything changes, including your perspective, your peace, your sense of self, and even your desire to share this recognition with others.
4. She desired to go and do (longing to live purposefully):
This is perhaps the part that excites me the most. Let’s look at the passage:
“So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ …Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word.” (John 4:28-42)
The woman didn’t just receive filling, she was energized and transformed. Her encounter with Jesus didn’t leave her stagnant. It ignited a longing to live out her purpose, to share the truth, and to step into the impact God designed her for.
Her testimony shows us that when we are truly known, valued, and filled, our longing for identity and purpose naturally moves us into action. She went from shame and hiding to boldly proclaiming the life-changing truth she had received.
The woman at the well is an example of love, truth, redemption, and acceptance. She reminds us that our deepest longings are meant to propel us into the life God created us to live, not just to satisfy us personally but to overflow into the world around us.
My Hope For The Living Well
This is the story I’ve prayed over for this space. That it would be a home of love, truth, redemption, and action. A place where you come not to chase another fix, but to be filled, so you can go and live your God-given purpose.
You were not designed to fill yourself from an empty cup. You were designed to receive and overflow. Let the longing in your soul remind you to return to the source of this – God himself – daily. Use this to propel you into the life you were designed for.
Creating a life well-lived is found in Christ alone. Let him do the work. Let him be your healer and your guide. Come back to him daily, for he is the living well, and He alone allows you to live well.
This spoke to me! I just began learning about god and found this article so profound. What resources should I look into to dive deeper? I want to learn how to have God fill the whole in my life.
Thank you
YES! I’m so happy you found this and it spoke to you! First, the YouVersion Bible App (which is free) is a great place to have the Bible at the tip of your fingers all day and it comes with many great devotionals. Lysa Terkeurst, Beth Moore, Jenni Allen are all some great resources to learn from in the Christian space. But I would love to continue this conversation in an e-mail if you’d like? E-mail me at alexa@thelivingwell.com and I can get more specific resources to you!
I would like to know more about the living well?
Of course! What would you like to know! I would recommend taking a look around at the site, including the about section where you can learn more about who we are and what our mission is. But please ask any questions you have!
Thank you for your encouragement words and I am happy I read it
I’m so glad it was beneficial! I hope you follow along for more encouragement!
Jesus spoke to me through this article . Seek and ye shall find . This is my story . This is my answer. Thank you JESUS 💜
YES!! He is always speaking and showing himself to us! I’m glad this was one of those ways for you! Let us know if there is anything we can do to help or pray for you!
So glad I came across this story. So beautifully explained. Thank you
I’m so glad you did as well!
Thank you so much for your sharing this word. I was writing about the woman at the well and had a lot of feelings that were described by you and I could relate to you in my Brokenness. I am so thankful that God has a purpose for our lives and that we can go and share with others oh, there’s nothing more rewarding. You have blessed me with this word and I will share it. Thank you
This means so much to me! Thank you for the kind words. Never forget God has a great purpose for your life! Thanks for sticking around. Let us know if you need anything or have any additional ideas or topics you would love to hear from us!
Thanks God I have read this today. What a good way to start my saturday. I came here because my friend also shared this story to me and I though of further understanding this story and the lesson behind it. Indeed he is the only way to a well-filled life. I am ready to continue my purpose in this world 💛 i will continue reading here as well 💛
YES! We are so glad this article was meaningful to you. I love diving into the Bible in this way. Thanks for sticking around. Let us know if there is anything we can help you with!
As I embark on a journey to strengthen my walk with God, I found myself here. I’ve been dealing with pouring from and empty cup, complacency, temporary fulfillment, etc. and this ministered to me. Thank you for being a vessel!
YES! We’re so happy you found us. We hope this helps fill your cup!
[…] 4 Lessons from The Woman At the Well In All Labor There is Profit […]
This article is what I needed today! I have had the woman at the well on my mind, and decided to Google the story today. Every single time I tried to read it, I was interrupted. Now it is midnight on new years eve and I am the only one awake .This was beautifully written and I loved it. Thank you so much for your words!
I’m so glad you loved it! It has meant a lot to me as well. Such an amazing story showing God’s character!
Thank you for this. Listening to a sermon online from my local Church and found your stories.
I’m so glad! We hope it was helpful!
This woman went to the well looking to meet her 6th husband. She knew travelers(men) would be around that time looking for water. It’s likely Sycar had its own wells. No need to walk a mile to get some water.
I realized that I am not to far to gone, with Jesus everything is possible. If He did it to the woman at the well , He can still do it to me.
Amen … I am so so much blessed by this potion of scripture.
YES! HE will do it again and again!
We are all so precious to Him
I thirst for more devotional and revelation
about the Samaritan Woman drawing water
from the well. I Am thirsty for the living
water that Jesus gave to the Samaritan
Woman.
Great article. Thank you. Will definitely use some of this in Bible studies, with attribution of course. I am writing a paper now comparing the real story of the WatW and Jesus’s story about the Good Samaritan.
One quick suggestion, check your headline. Big difference between living will and living well.
Love the name of your site, too.
I’ve read the bible stories before, but the story about the women at the well, is and was the story of my life. Lord I desire your living water, that I never thirst again…EVER!!!!!!! Amen 🙏🏾.
Iam so blessed to have come across this teaching My life will never be the same to God be the glory
I’m so glad you are here! Please keep us posted if we can help you in any way!