You’re not Enough…

I have been feeling within my heart a draw to write about my experience at the Designed Sisterhood night at James River Assembly and the message which was so beautifully articulated throughout the whole evening; from the beauty of the event, the volunteers creating the atmosphere, the worship and the speaker’s heart. This event is an event that James River Assembly ( a bigger church in the Springfield area) puts on every fall and spring, to encourage and uplift women, give women an opportunity to meet other like minded women, have some fun girly times with friends, and to invite others to understand the hope that we have within Christ.  It is always a really fun night with friends and other woman, but it also refreshes the soul. Truth, refreshes the soul!

Here are a couple pics of me and some friends at the event!  

If you are feeling desperate that there is something more, or have a feeling that you are not enough in whatever capacity that may be, I want you to know that you are. Do you feel that you can not be loved or that your past somehow defines you… ? It doesn’t have to. Maybe you feel that you try so hard to be better at your job, being a mother, being a wife, being a student, fill in the blank and you continue to fail and have begun to believe that you will always be a failure. These are all lies- You are enough, Your past does not define your future, and You can change and be fulfilled.

As women, we are constantly bombarded by negative thoughts about ourselves whether it be said from others, posts on social media, or what we believe about ourselves. We look at others lives and want things that they have, want to live their life, or be prettier, smarter, or more confident, feeling that we are inadequate. There are so many things whether it be social media, relationships, or communities that can make a woman feel like they are not enough. But, You are enough. Your past does not define your future. You can change and you can be fulfilled. This is what I want you to understand as I tell you this very special story.

That evening at Designed Sisterhood, the guest speaker spoke about a woman that very much felt all of those things that I mentioned above, but beyond that, she was constantly bombarded by negative thoughts from herself, and from others and was judged by many for her lifestyle. She had been with six different men and had been married 5 times, many believed her to be a prostitute. She may have had lot of kids from those relationships, a lot of baggage, pain from the failed marriages, and now a mindset that she was not enough. She was the talk of the town and was seen as unclean, an outcast, and not worthy of love. I’m sure at some point she began to believe the very things others said about her and began to think, “that’s just who I am, it will never change, this is my life.” But, one day around the noon hour, she met a man at the well and her life changed. This is a story about redemption, grace, love and mercy.

In order to understand this story a little better and understand what an incredible story this is, I have to give you some context.

1. The woman was a Samaritan Woman and the Man a Jew.
   During this time, Samaritans and Jews never mixed. Jews were seen as the higher class of people, while Samaritans were a half-breed race of Jew, unclean, inferior, the outcasts. Jews would many times take the longer road than the convenience of going through Samaria, because they disliked the Samaritans so much.
2. Women would usually gather water at the wells during the wee hours of the morning and the evening, since they lived in a desert area that was extremely hot. Women would not be at the well during the noon hour unless they had a reason. She was an outcast and felt very low, so not wanting to be in the presence of others, she waited till noon to get the water.
3. A Jewish man would never been seen talking to a woman alone, let alone a Samaritan woman.

So as I mentioned above, this Samaritan woman thought that she was not enough and she was the talk of the town due to her lifestyle (remember she had been married 5 times and was now with another man. She was seen as un-fit, un-clean and may have even been a prostitute.) On this particular day as she went to gather water at the well, her life would change and she would no longer be that same woman, she would leave the well with hope and a new destiny. A Jewish man walking with a mission “had to go to Samaria” and went directly to the well, the same well that a woman would frequent in just a little while. Now, remember Jews hated Samaritans and they would never walk through Samaria… they would rather take the long route and walk further going around Samaria, then to set foot on Samaritan soil.

It was about the noon hour, the desert sun was very hot and the Jewish man was parched, but did not have a water bucket. Along came the Samaritan woman and the man nicely asked, “ Will you get me some water?,” – shocked that the Jewish man would be talking to her, she answered back “How is that you a Jewish man would be talking to me, a Samaritan Woman? Do you not have a bucket of your own?” (remember Jews did not associate with Samaritans). To which the man replied saying “If you knew who was asking you for water, you would ask him to give you living water.” She continued, “ Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank of it himself as did his sons and livestock?” The man answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

After hearing about this water, the woman asked to receive it. It was then that this man completely blew her away with the word of knowledge about her life. The Jewish man told her to go and get her husband and bring him back. She replied “I have no husband.” The the man said “ You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” She then says, “ I can tell you are a prophet… I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ) and when he does he will tell us everything.”

The Jewish man then answered “I am He.”

So why is this story so important and what can we learn from this story?

1. The man in the story is Jesus and he had to go to Samaria for the reason of meeting this woman at the well in the noon hour. He had to meet her where she was at and give her hope, even if it was in the heat of the desert sun. Jesus does this for us too. He meets us where we are at in life! He doesn’t ask us to come to him perfect… he says everyone come and everyone is welcome.

2. The woman at the well needed to hear what Jesus had to say and needed hope. She was the outcast of the women, she needed to feel loved, feel like she wasn’t alone, and feel like she was enough. She was enough because God is enough for us.
Jesus will cross all the boundaries and will not follow protocol if it means bringing you hope and new life. Jesus has no prejudices, he sees you as the person you were created to be… the destiny you have.

3. God loves you because he created you. He does not make junk or things that are worthless. If he cared this much for this woman that he had to go to Samaria in the heat of the day, just to meet her, why don’t you think he cares that much for you?

Maybe you are feeling similar. Maybe you are feeling like you are not enough, or don’t measure up. Maybe you feel like you are all alone and no one cares. Maybe you feel like you can’t do anything but be who you are… that you can’t change or things can’t change. Maybe you feel like you have been something for so long, that you can’t change or don’t know how. If he cared this much for this woman and had to meet her, to bring her hope, can’t he do the same for you?

Jesus wants to do the same thing for you that he did for the woman of the story! He knows you so well and he knows where you are at in life. He wants to give you this living water. This living water is his spirit living in you causing you to be joyful and live life in a new way. He wants to encourage you, inspire you, and change your mentality of who you are!

If you are searching, continue to read through God’s word. Continue to ask questions and if you are seeking you will find Him. (verses to help you at the very bottom) 🙂
Couldn’t he make your life better, couldn’t he make you feel like you are enough?

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This poem is beautiful and all about this story. Soak in the words and meditate on the beauty that is Jesus and the story of grace and love! Read the words below and watch the video.

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I am a woman of no distinction
of little importance.
I am a women of no reputation
save that which is bad.

You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances,
Though you don’t really take the time to look at me,
Or even get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved,
And to be loved is to be known.
Otherwise what’s the point in doing
either one of them in the first place?

I WANT TO BE KNOWN.

I want someone to look at my face
And not just see two eyes, a nose,
a mouth and two ears;
But to see all that I am, and could be
all my hopes, loves and fears.

But that’s too much to hope for,
to wish for,
or pray for
So I don’t, not anymore.

Now I keep to myself
And by that I mean the pain
that keeps me in my own private jail
The pain that’s brought me here
at midday to this well.

To ask for a drink is no big request
but to ask it of me?
A woman unclean, ashamed,
Used and abused
An outcast, a failure
a disappointment, a sinner.

No drink passing from these hands
to your lips could ever be refreshing
Only condemning, as I’m sure you condemn me now
But you don’t.

You’re a man of no distinction;
Though of the utmost importance.
A man with little reputation, at least so far.

You whisper and tell me to my face
what all those glances have been about, and
You take the time to really look at me.
But don’t need to get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved and
To be loved is to be known.

And you know me.
You actually know me;
all of me and everything about me.
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head;
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread.

My past and my future, all I am and could be.
You tell me everything,
you tell me about me!

And that which is spoken by another
would bring hate and condemnation.
Coming from you brings love, grace,
mercy, hope and salvation.

I’ve heard of one to come
who could save a wretch like me
And here in my presence, you say
I AM He.

To be known is to be loved;
And to be loved is to be known.

And I just met you.
But I love you.
I don’t know you,
but I want to get to.

Let me run back to town
this is way to much for just me.
There are others: brothers,
sisters, lovers, haters.

The good and the bad, sinners and saints
who should hear what you’ve told me;
who should see what you’ve shown me;
who should taste what you gave me;
who should feel how you forgave me.

For to be known is to be loved;
And to be loved is to be known.
And they all need this, too.
We all do
Need it for our own.

Looking for truth… The bible is a great place to start!

Here are some verses of this amazing good news!
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To read this story yourself in the bible: Read John 4

Jeremiah 29:11-13 “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and i will hear you. You will seek me and fine me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 1: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Romans 3:23-25 “ … For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whome God put forward as a propitiation, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.“

1 John 3 :16- 18 “For God so loved the World that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whosever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only son.

Romans 8: 1-3 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

Romans 5: 8– “ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”