So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. John 4:5-6

John continues to lay the background for this story. Jesus knew precisely what he was doing when he sat by the well. He knew the Samaritan woman would come fetch water, and he knew who she was. As Jesus waits by the well, you can almost sense the tenseness in His disciples as she approached the well to draw water. This is but one of many “tests” the disciples would have for Jesus, to solidify their decision and to see just exactly how He would handle it.

Many, if not all, reading this are living with their own sagas. You don’t know how someone will react, you don’t know where else to look for work, you are just in a holding pattern, hoping the entire roof doesn’t come crashing down on you. At this point it might be very tempting to give up and throw in the towel, so to speak. But you’re keeping to your faith, being faithful in the little things, and just surging ahead.

Let me encourage you to continue on that path. Yes, it’s easy to walk away from it all and to pretend it never happened, but these trying times are what builds character and forges your faith. Minute by minute, hour by hour, we come to Him for strength and sustenance. In the end, it’s worth it all: the struggles, the tears, the frustrations, the annoyances, the pain.

If you’re in that valley right now, write me so that at least one other person is praying for you.