“Thank you for seeing me at the wall.”
A girl with a lemon-patterned wristlet whispered to me. She smiled at me as she made her way into the church sanctuary.
She hadn’t been to a service in years and I was the first face to welcome her in the lobby. When I met her, she stood awkwardly against the wall in the lobby, trying to escape the crowd.
Why would someone come to a women’s event and isolate?
Someone who was searching for something.
Someone in need of a friend.
We bonded over her wristlet and love for Jesus. I connected her to some of my friends and she quickly became a part of our group (even though she only stuck around for a season).
While I listened to this girl recount her past, I heard about the years of hardship and isolation. But Jesus knew just how deep that pain went. Far more than I ever could.
Friends see us in the battles and help us make it through.
Jesus not only sees us and helps us. He knows the details others don’t.
My participation in this story felt minimal compared to what she needed for support. But Jesus was right there with us. I didn’t know that, just days before, she met with a church leader and prayed to meet friends at this event. And for some reason, God chose to use me to be a part of that answer.
In John 4:1-26, Jesus takes the road less traveled to Samaria and encounters a woman at the well. She was an outcast, marginalized by society. They saw her for what she had done, not for who she truly was. She would get water from the well at the hottest time of day to avoid the gossip and hurtful comments from others. Nothing of her story was convenient. But Jesus broke that barrier to meet with her.
Jesus saw this woman as a daughter of God, who just like everyone, was in need of saving. He defied cultural standards as a Jew and spoke with this Samaritan woman. He cared – regardless of details – because her eternal identity outweighed what people said of her. She was chosen. She was cared for. She had a purpose, a hope, and a future.
Jesus saw her at the well, alone, when nobody else did.
Can you relate to feeling like an outsider?
Maybe you weren’t physically up against a wall or near a well. Sometimes the walls and wells we find ourselves at are spiritual. And, much like a physical object, we grow comfortable there. We may even feel stuck in that spot.
In faith communities, there’s also the saying of “hitting the wall” when you feel stuck and have trouble hearing God. We all eventually face it, and we all have a choice as to how we respond. Will we challenge ourselves to push through and overcome, or will we stay stuck, or even go back to where we began?
Oftentimes, people stay stuck at the wall at their own volition. The wall can become our comfort, despite being a place of hardship. It may seem safer than risking getting disappointed or hurt again. We may wind up doubting and questioning God until we encounter Him afresh.
Yet, Jesus meets us at the wall. He doesn’t let us stay in what’s comfortable, unhealthy, or unsustainable. Jesus meets us at our spiritual walls to tear them down. We can be real and vulnerable, open and honest with Him.
Just like the lonely girl at my church. Just like the woman at the well.
We may feel overlooked. We may feel like an outcast or outsider. But we have hope because Jesus sees us in our suffering and hurt. He knows the details of our stories. And He promises us a hope and a future.
We may feel stuck and alone at the well or the wall. But when we look up, we can see Him right beside us.
Resources
Have you ever struggled to find key verses in your Bible about who God is? Do you wish you had a fast, reliable reference?
Download “10 Truths about God’s Character” as a reminder of these truths and Scripture verses! Click here to download the PDF version. Click here to download the printable bookmark for free!
Consider the Joy 
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