Interconnected: RelationshipsSample

An Inconvenient Moment

Have you ever tried to function on an empty stomach? When I do, I end up grumpy and impatient. In John 4, as Jesus is talking with the woman at the well, the disciples find themselves waiting and hungry. In verse 31 it actually says the disciples “urged Jesus to eat.” I think this was their “polite” way of telling Him they were hungry!

What the disciples didn’t realize is that Jesus’ conversation would result in many changed lives. They were inconvenienced, but Jesus was concerned with something of far greater spiritual value. Plus, this is Jesus! He’d already fed 5,000 people; I’m sure He wasn’t going to leave them hanging.

I’m embarrassed to think of how many times I’ve missed God’s purpose in moments like this because I’ve been too distracted by my own problems. Sadly, I find this often happens at home. For example, my two-year-old son recently woke up at 5:30am, wide awake and ready to play. My wife had been up with him during the night, so now it was my turn. I’m not a morning person, so I was frustrated and struggling to get out of bed. But thankfully, God got my attention, and I realized that maybe He wanted me to spend some quality time with my son. Maybe this wasn’t so much an interruption as it was a divine appointment. So I loaded my child into the car, stopped for some coffee, and we went to the beach to watch the sunrise. It ended up being an awesome experience, one I could have missed.

When Jesus said His food was to “do the will of the One Who sent Him,” He was pointing out a truth we sometimes forget. The only thing that truly satisfies is living God’s purpose. This moment in God’s plan was not just for the woman at the well and for her town, but for the disciples’ fulfillment and joy, too. He has the same plan for us. Let’s look to Him for it, especially in those moments of inconvenience!

DIG: Can you think of a time where you didn’t want to do something, but when you did, it ended up being an amazing God moment?
DISCOVER: Why do you think God uses those moments to teach us?
DISPLAY: The next time you’re presented with a moment you would rather avoid, pray and open yourself to what God can do.