by Karen Resèndiz
There’s a story in the Bible that I love. A story about a woman with a really dark past and a bright future. We know from the Bible that this woman had been with many different men, and the one she was with now wasn’t her husband. We know that people knew her for her sins, and her past. But then she met someone that changed her life forever. (You can read the whole story in John 4:1-42)
HOW HER LIFE CHANGED
One day, Jesus was traveling with his friends (disciples), and decided to go through a town where He knew people would not receive him well. But it appears that Jesus had to meet someone special there. So, He came into a town called Samaria to take a break from the road. He was thirsty, so He asked a woman to give him a drink. I believe this woman was tough, and did not let anyone tell her what to do. She replied: “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans). Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water .Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but 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.”
What in the world just happened here? First, this Jew man (Jesus) approaches a strange Samaritan woman to ask her for a drink, then He tells her that He can give her some of this special, never ending water! As we continue with the story, we see how Jesus tells her all about her past, a sinful past. But instead of feeling ashamed, this woman recognizes that this Jew man was not a regular man. He knew her! He truly knew her! And He wanted to spend time talking to her, sharing with her some of his deepest secrets about his identity: the Savior of the world! Jesus came to meet her where she was, He had to see her, talk to her and give her exactly what she needed.
Do you know what happened next? She went from being the “troublemaker” in her town, to being a preacher of Jesus Christ. She shared the good news with everyone and her own life’s testimony was enough for many to believe in Jesus.
WE ALL HAVE A PAST
Just like this woman, we can meet with Jesus and get to know him better. We can let him change us from the inside out and give us a new purpose. When this woman had a real and personal encounter with Jesus, her whole world changed! She didn’t just hear a sermon from Jesus in the crowd; or listened to her full list of sins along the their condemnation. She got to talk to Jesus one on one! She had a deep conversation where she asked questions, got good answers and was even confronted about her past. But she was also given an opportunity to make things right and start a new beautiful life.
Just like this woman, we can meet with Jesus and get to know him better. We can let him change us from the inside out and give us a new purpose. When this woman had a real and personal encounter with Jesus, her whole world changed! She didn’t just hear a sermon from Jesus in the crowd; or listened to her full list of sins along the their condemnation. She got to talk to Jesus one on one! She had a deep conversation where she asked questions, got good answers and was even confronted about her past. But she was also given an opportunity to make things right and start a new beautiful life.
You may think that your past is too dark, complicated or even shameful. You may be a victim of abuse, violence or hate. But you know what? We ALL have a past, we all struggle in different ways, and we all make mistakes. The Good News is that God wants us to enjoy an abundant life in Him. We can always make the decision to start over, try again, and stop letting our past or present trials holding us back from the bright future that Jesus has for us. God wants to give you a happy ending. He wants to bring beauty from ashes, he wants to give you an abundant life and hopes for our future. He wants you to dream, and be able to see your dreams come true! Will you let him come and meet you where you are?
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:18-19
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Karen Arlene Reséndiz is a theologian and author. She is originally from Mexico and now resides in Odessa, Texas. Karen is the founder of a Women’s Ministry called Isha Ruaj – Woman of the Spirit, reaching women of all ages in Mexico and the United States. She is also the founder of Little Seeds Children´s Ministry, reaching children in over 90 countries. Along with her husband and three children, Karen serves God full-time. Presently, she dedicates a great part of her time to writing and creating resources for her ministries, and participates in monthly strip club ministry outreaches.