What is your Samaria?

If he had taken the long way, would she have known she is seen? If he followed cultural norms and expectations—“our people don’t go there”—would she believe? 

If he feared how he might be received as he walked through the territory in which he was not welcome, would he have conversed with her?

When Jesus chose to walk through Samaria to get to Galilee he wasn’t just busting through cultural norms as he often did, he was choosing the better way.

In those times, Jews would often avoid Samaria to such a degree that they would walk seven or so days around the region, rather than the three it took to go straight through. 

But Jesus walked right through and met a scandalous woman at a well in midday. In fact, he had the longest recorded conversation between him and any human with that woman. The one society had cast off because well, her choices were less than upstanding. 

As these facts lingered in my mind while I read through John 4 I could sense the nudging of the Holy Spirit. It was as if he was asking me, what’s your Samaria? What are you walking around? What are you trying to avoid? 

And just like that he brought a group of women to mind. Women I had written off as just another click. And yet, to Him, they are His beloved daughters, longing to be seen and known, just like me. 

You see, Jesus saw the nameless woman at the well. But if he had taken the long way, avoided the hard place, he would have missed her.

He followed the Father’s leading and walked straight in.  

What’s your Samaria? What do you try to avoid at all costs? Is it the mom of one of your kid’s friends? Is it a coworker that every time they pull together a project team you pray you aren’t with him? Sit on that question. Think about it a moment.

Father help us to see what you would call our Samaria and to humbly walk right in.

** Written by Lindsey, this was originally posted on The Joyful Life magazine’s Instagram account.