He was tired
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. John 4:6
Have you ever been weary? Tired out from a long day at work or an even longer week of running to fit everything in? As often as it happens to us and even as we can recognize when those around us are getting to the end of their strength, it is still hard to imagine that Jesus grew weary. I have to admit that my perception of Him was that He was always full of energy and full of life. Even though I know there were times that He went days without food and sometimes without sleep, I have still always thought of Him as never feeling the pains of living in a human body.
We know it is not the case though. There are many times in scripture that we read about Jesus being thirsty or hungry and tired. He was all man, so He for sure felt the limitations that these mortal bodies have. That was by design so that He could experience the things we do and sympathize with our weaknesses.
However, Jesus had a secret and that was the reason that He was often able to press through the weakness of His earthly body. That secret was His mission. Not that His mission was a secret but knowing His mission and purpose for being in this world propelled Him through the difficult times even through the shame and suffering on the cross. Each day He got the plan for His activities of the day from His Father and then He carried them out. Many times it looked like He was pulled off His mission to help someone who happened to come to Him along the way, but in reality, it was all part of the plan. God’s plan took Him to the places that He needed to be at just the right time for the people that would step out in faith to touch Him or ask for help. He just went to the places that God directed, and those who would reach out in faith sought Him out and received.
Now you may be thinking, “That’s great, but that was Jesus and of course everyone knows that He was here for a specific purpose and to get a job done.” While that is true, it is also true for you and me. Actually, there are two sides of this passage that we can apply in our lives.
1. Jesus is with us today where ever we go and when reach out to Him in faith, He responds and leads us through out struggle.
2. We are all here on mission and purpose and we must seek it out with our whole heart and walk faithfully in the ways of God that we know until that purpose is revealed. As we walk through our daily life, it is up to us to first seek God’s kingdom and righteousness or right way of going, then He will add the mission and purpose to our lives as we are faithful to seek Him for it. Only then will you have the strength you need to press on in the difficult times and only then will you stay the course when all Hell breaks out against you. When you know you are doing what you are called to do and you are in the place that you were created to fill and conquer, that is when you will tear down walls and brake through barriers. You will be determined to get you mission accomplished no matter what it takes!
So today, I want to encourage you to trust God through your struggles and seek out that mission and place where you fit. Start by living the life you know that you were designed to live. That part is all laid out in the scripture for you. Connect with others that can help you find those passages if you do not already know them. Then begin to faithfully walk those out in your everyday life. Things like spending quiet time with God each morning, loving others, being generous and kind, honoring, respecting and loving your spouse, raising your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, being faithful to serve in the church body, working a job to the best of your ability so you have something to give, and so much more. Then as you are becoming faithful in those things you know are right and growing your relationship with your heavenly Father, He will begin to drop ministry ideas in your heart and opening doors for you to walk through to take steps toward those plans. As you are growing closer to Him, you will be able to discern His leading on the inside of your heart. You know that He is leading your toward reaching others and ways to help and bring others along with you to walk closer with Him. Start today and when those weary times come, and they will, you will be strengthened by His Spirit in knowing that you are called to this, and He has all that you need for you to complete it.
Today’s scripture reading: John 4:1-6
1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John
2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),
3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.
4 But He needed to go through Samaria.
5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
The Daily Dose 