“…the woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty’” (John 4:15).
In this verse, we get a glimpse into a conversation Jesus had with a woman who was simply burned out. This woman had made some poor life choices, but that did not stop Jesus from rearranging his schedule in order to reveal what was suffocating this woman’s soul.
Friend, burnout is God’s back-up plan to break our busyness and offer the blessing of His presence.
As a single mom, daughter, worker, and active church member, these things bring a lot of busyness that can lead to burnout. I have to carpool. I have to pack lunch. I have to clean. I have to pay bills. I have to mediate. I have to meet deadlines. I have gatherings to attend. I have to sift through personal matters of the heart. I have to process family drama. And on and on my list goes.
I gradually go into playing the “Why me?” soundtrack as a result of all the to-do’s.
Why me? … I have to do this all alone.
Why me? … It is just too much for one person.
Why me? … I can’t experience the motherhood I always imagined.
I am not sure what path has led you into this strange land called Single Parenting, but God steps into our messy lives. Thankfully, we have a savior who willingly searches our thoughts that reveal our thirst for more of him.
He reaches.
He rescues.
He redeems.
I am sure we single moms have all prayed a prayer something like this: Lord, if I could just board a plane or a cruise ship to get away from it all, then everything would be okay.
We do not need to change our location for God to change our situation. Jesus altered his entire route because he knew this woman would ultimately bind her heart to His.
Friend, God didn’t meet this woman to give her a handout; He met her to give her a hand up. This one-on-one chat was compelled by His love for her. He shared the truth, but did not shame her. Jesus values us enough to actively pursue us to offer empathy for our emptiness.
There is no place so dry in our soul that cannot be refreshed by Jesus’ Living Water. We must accept our limitations. We simply can’t raise our children, work full time, change décor with the seasons, cook meals and crafts like married moms with a husband as a support.
As I write this, my eyes overflow with streams of tears. I have made many choices out of the busyness and broken places of my life, but they have all brought me one step closer to my God who provides Living Water as refreshment for my parched soul.
My prayer for you: Heavenly Father, I surrender everything to you. I admit that I have allowed the shallow water of the temporary things of this world seep into my heart, mind and spirit. Lord, refresh me so I may never thirst again. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About Natalie Mott
Hey Y’all! My name is Natalie! I am a speaker, novice writer and a single mom to a delightful 16 –year old girl. I crave all things Jesus just like my favorite desert – pound cake, whipped cream, strawberries and ice cream. I can literally eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I also freestyle dance in my work cubicle, grocery stores or wherever music is playing on the overhead. My passion is to empower women to think deeply, examine their hearts and grow in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. https://cravingallthingsjesus.wordpress.com/