January 28, 2002
The Eyes of Disappointment
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “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.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” John 4: 7-11
Do you see the disappointment in the Savior’s eyes? Here is God on this earth, and he reaches to a Samaritan woman, an outcast times two in that she was Samaritan and woman, and she does not know who he is. The love of the Savior reaches to those who are unwanted and cast out. This woman should never have had this encounter with Jesus. He, according to the law and the customs of the time, should never have spoken to her. However, his love caused him to reach out. He did not wish for anyone to be lost for all eternity, yet the disappointment must have been great. Do you ever find yourself disappointed when those around you fail to see that you are a special creation of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you ever find yourself, like Jesus, having to try to explain who you are. Maybe it is received and maybe it is rejected. Whatever the case, the Savior knows how it feels. He experienced great disappointment many times, over and over again: disappointment when one of his own betrayed him, disappointment when his own people, the Jews, refused to acknowledge him. Do not be overcome with disappointment. Jesus knows just what you are feeling. He has felt it for you. He went before you to prepare the way for you to get through it. Turn, look at his eyes and see the compassion that he had for this woman. Turn, look at his eyes and see the compassion he has for you. Ask him for this living water that you will never thirst again. Speak to the one who has spoken to you. Let him help you get through each time of disappointment that comes your way.
Father, let us see beyond the disappointments in our lives. Lord, for the sake of your name, you let us see that love that draws us to you. Forgive me for the times I have disappointed others. Father, lift our heads. Remove the shame of the Samaritan woman from us and let us know that we are loved. Father, for the sake of the name of the Son, you show us our worth in Jesus and give us all that we need to walk above the disappointments of this life, amen.
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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