John 4:3-18

As we saw in my previous devotion, countless people go through life feeling empty, which is contrary to God’s plan. The account of the Samaritan woman in John 4 teaches several important points about fulfillment.
Filling our emptiness is important to the Lord. Jewish people didn’t travel through Samaria because of their intense hatred for its inhabitants. Yet Jesus, a Jew, chose to travel there because He knew a hurting Samaritan was ready to hear about the Father’s love.
Our attempts at happiness often leave us feeling hopeless. The woman at the well had been wed five times, but all of her marriages had failed. Whether or not the problems were her fault, she was left without the love she sought. Most likely, each broken relationship left her feeling lonelier than before.
God knows our pain. When the woman admitted she didn’t presently have a husband, Jesus revealed that He already knew she and the man living with her were not married. By demonstrating His awareness of her hurt and longing for fulfillment, the Lord helped the woman recognize her need for a Savior.
Jesus can satisfy our yearnings. Once the Samaritan woman realized what was missing, Jesus revealed how to live a full life: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (vv. 13-14).
Do you ever feel like the Samaritan woman—dissatisfied with life and thirsty for love and fulfillment? Surrender to God, and allow His love to flow through you. Only then will you experience abundant life.