I was in college when I met my husband at a Bible study. He was sitting on the floor dressed in scruffy jeans, a red flannel shirt, and a strong face that needed a shave. The moment I saw him, I was smitten. But I didn’t want him to know that.
Steve finally asked me out on a date, and several more followed. One night, Steve said, “Will go with me to all the rest of the football games for the rest of the year?”
“I’m not going to answer that question,” I cavalierly responded. “You’ll have to ask me each week.”
What I was really saying was that I wanted to be pursued. None of this blanket-invitation-for-the-entire-fall business. I wanted to be wooed and won. Even though he had me the moment I saw him sitting on that shag carpet floor. I wanted him to show me that I was worth putting forth the effort to capture my heart.
We all want that, don’t we? To be pursued? And nobody does that better than Jesus. Let’s consider His pursuit of one particular soul.
John 4:4 tell us, “He had to go through Samaria.” That one verse stirs my heart because I know what’s coming next. Jews avoided Samaritans like the plague—literally. They were a quarantined people, and the Jews kept their distance. And the Samaritans hated the Jews right back.
So it wasn’t because of geography that Jesus “had to go through Samaria” on His way to Galilee, but because His Father told Him to. Jesus reminded the disciples many times that He only did what His Father told Him to do (John 5:19).
You see, there was a woman in Samaria who had been used and abused all her life. She felt less than every man who had thrown her away, as well as every woman who looked the other way. And now she was about to experience something new: being pursued by pure love.
While most women went to the well to draw water for their daily use in the cool of the morning or late in the evening, this woman went at high noon to avoid being snubbed by the other women in town. When she showed up, Jesus was waiting and asked, “Will you give me a drink? (John 4:7).
He was breaking the cultural rules by talking to a woman in public and drinking from a Samaritan’s cup. He was willing to cross the man-made rules to set the God-made woman free.
As Jesus engaged her in conversation, He asked her to go get her husband. When she admitted that she didn’t have one, Jesus revealed the sad truth of her life. She’d had five husbands plus one extra. We don’t know why she had been divorced five times. In those days, a man could divorce his wife if she went outside the home with her hair unbound or spoke to a man in public or just didn’t like her anymore. But whatever the reasons, this was a woman who had been abused, misused, and tossed away by men she had trusted and loved.
Jesus spoke of her past without a hint of condemnation or rejection in His voice. As a matter of fact, He applauded her honesty, and commenced to have the longest recorded conversation in the New Testament with this broken woman.
Then Jesus did something amazing. For the first time, He told someone that He was the Messiah. “I, the one speaking to you—I am he” (John 4:26).
This woman, pursued by God, dropped her water bucket, and ran back to town to tell the very people she had avoided about Jesus. Her story holds great promise for any woman who has ever tried to fill the hole in her heart with relationships but come up empty. It is for every single one of us who has ever felt less than because we were tossed away, or others were chosen, and we were not.
I think God made sure this story was included for every woman who has ever felt less than because of rejection, discrimination, or a sullied reputation. And for you…and for me. God’s pursuit began in the Garden of Eden with the words, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) and continued with the words “He had to go through Samaria.” Listen closely. They continue even now.
He pursues you still.
Jesus, thank You for pursuing me. I am caught. I am loved. It is forever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
How does it make you feel that God has and is still pursuing you? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
If you’ve ever felt less than, then this book is for you. In NEVER LESS THAN: Living Esteemed, Empowered, and Equipped When the World Tells You Otherwise you’ll see the great lengths Jesus went to in order to set women free…and that includes you. This is a message that your daughters and granddaughters need to hear. It also includes a Bible study guide in the back.
It’s not too late to sign up for the 30-Day Praying for Your Child Challenge that begins February 1. Click here to sign up or learn more.
© 2024 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
Comments 41
I feel cherished! Is there any greater feeling than being cherished? “Adore, treasure, protect and care for someone lovingly”. It’s very definition makes my heart beam 😊🙏🏻
Thank you for this timely message! How does it feel to know that God is pursuing me still? Incredulous, amazed, blessed, full, and so so grateful.
Thank you God for pursuing me
“NEVER LESS THAN: Living Esteemed, Empowered, and Equipped When the ‘Word’ Tells You Otherwise”
Typo above in the link. ‘Word’ should be WORLD, right?
I’m sorry. It just jumped out at me
Author
Yikes! Thanks so much. I just fixed it!
Thank you heavenly Father for all things you do for me. You are my strength, my stronghold in whom I have always and continue to lean on.
Thank you for sharing this of the woman at the well, I felt like her many times in my walk of life but Jesus has been there all the time for me. Praise your wonderful name.
The father of my children did not want me. I was so broken that I left my children and went away. He was a very good father to them. However, I missed all of their growing up and even now do not have a real close relationship with my children. So when I read this devotion, I am brought to my knees with a realization that I am forgiven and my relationship with Jesus is that he will always want me and love me.
It makes me feel just great…so thankful to be pursued! I am so blessed to read your devotionals weekly. Thank you 😊
. This is the right message & on the time needed!!!! Thank you Sharon & god bless you and your family abundantly!!! God is always good 😊
I feel Him pursuing me always.
I am a man. But I found the Lord of Glory in the page’s of the Bible. Thank you for your prayers and for your ministry. Much love and blessings to you and all your loved ones.
Author
And God is pursuing you too!
Feeling so blessed that I am loved and pursued by Jesus, May God bless you and your family. Thank you for the weekly devotions
God was pursuing me back in 2002 after many prodigal years. I was alone in AL and my husband had moved to our new home in TX. I stayed behind to take care of business & one morning as I was getting dressed I felt the Lord telling me to go to church there in AL. I told Him in my mind that I truly will when I get to TX in a few weeks. He impressed upon me that I need to start now. I wanted to argue but did go to church the next Sunday and I have been faithful ever since. The Lord was faithful to me when I was not to Him. I am so grateful He pursued me and I want to honor Him with my life.
Thank you for this very timely devotional. I have lead this study as part of my healing process from a divorce after 31 years. I remember how it empowered me. As it’s creeping up on February and the 5 year anniversary of me telling my ex husband I wanted a divorce and what would have been our 36 year anniversary, I sometimes still struggle. The feelings of not being enough creep in. I am thankful for what I went through as I wouldn’t be the woman I am today, and I really like this new and improved version of me. I am not a victim but a survivor. I am an encourager with a positive attitude who has the love of the Holy Spirit that resides inside of me. Healing old emotional wounds is HARD…. I am a huge Sharon Jaynes fan as your books and devotionals have helped me so much along the way. Thank you for this reminder. Without leaning into God’s words and his promises I would not be who I am today. I am a daughter of the one who will never let me down. The one who will never leave me, who will never love me any more or less than He does right now, the one who I put my everything into, the one I aim to please first and foremost. Thank you again for the reminder of who’s I am.
Beyond words grateful. I wouldn’t be here without it.
Widowed at 44, it has brought me peace to know God pursues a relationship with me. Most of all, it makes me want to share his unconditional love with everyone so that they may have the same peace and freedom.
One can only express the wholeness one feel when they know that our Lord and Savior loves them, and is always there when we need him!! Thank you for loving a me!!!
I thank God that He is cherishing and pursuing me. I know I was cherished by my husband until he transitioned to heaven and I haven’t felt truly cherished since and I miss that so much.☹️ I was adored, protected, and he would go out of his way to make time for me(us) and make sure I was good. So I’m glad God feels that way about me to an even greater degree. That my relationship with Him means that much to Him that He would go out of His way to pursue me to show me how much He loves me.
I feel loved that he would leave the 99 just for me….What a Awesome God we serve 🙌
Thank you Sharon for this! Feeling less than any being right now.
It makes me feel secure. Secure in his eternal love for me. He is my rock, and my fortress, my anchor. I love that he will never leave me, nor forsake me. I can always go to Him.
Thank you for this. I am a woman who has been married five times. I understand the depth of pain she felt, not wanting to even look up for fear of judgement and soul crushing shame. 3 times divorced , widowed once and now married to a true gift from God. I hope to share this with our women’s ministry team and hopefully with the women of our church. Isnt God so good and so kind……AMAZING GRACE and MERCY.
So grateful that God pursued after me even when I thought I didn’t want to be pursued, And, He’s never stopped.
Thank you God for always pursuing me with your unconditional and perfect love!
No one on earth can love me the way that you do. God you are” the strength of my heart and portion forever” (Psalm 73b).
God Bless you Sharon and all you beautiful ladies!
Debbie L
Thankyou for sharing this piece. Iam so greatful the God is pursuing me as I am doing the same thing with him each and ever day.
I know that am PURSED cherished and loved by God in my head, but sometimes getting it to my heart realize this is a little harder. Especially sinec the church you loved and attended and served in for 38 years basicaly threw a lot of us older people who had attened a long time out and let another church take over what we had worked so hard to build. What we had sacrificed to build. Our leadership allowed this tohappen and now I feel so abandoned and unloved
Have been feeling less, alone & scared at 71 years old. This has really spoke to me. Thanks Sharon.
I have been the woman at the well. I still have to remind myself that God is pursuing me and I am worth the effort, even when the world around me does not make me feel this way. I love the song, “Woman at the Well” by Olivia Lane. It really brings this to life for me. Thank you for your writing.
What are the signs that I should see in my life that God is pursuing me? Is it being content in my circumstances or seeing something out of the ordinary like Gideon in my Life?. I am living a life of expectations and waiting and praying. Is he pursuing me by allowing me to put food on my table? Please give me clear example in your life because I feel like I’m pursuing God and desperately seeking his face for solutions.
Thankyou Sharon for this reminder!
We woman are fearfully and wonderfully made!! We are so Blessed and Worthy!!
This story is so me.. I’m 40. unmarried. No kids. No job. No guys wants to pursue me yet women in my family, community or church have & still looked down for being single
I’m uplifted in my spirit even if I read this 2 or 3times before but today I had goosebumps reading this again..
Thank you Sharon for sharing this wonderful piece.
Author
I”m soooooo glad. I’m sure its hard sometimes. I have lots of single friends, but I promise you, I don’t look down on them at all! You are sooooo loved. Consider this a holy hug! Sharon
I thank you Lord for bringing me out of the life I was once living and bringing me to a life of following and loving you, you have cleansed me, loved me, healed me, walked beside me every step of my journey. I praise your glorious name , Please continue to bless me, you are my God and love and I trust you.
Thank you Jesus for loving me like no other! ❤️🙏🏽
I feel relieved, amazed and privileged being pursued by God Almighty. Me? A wretched maggot and Jesus is interested in me? It’s a comfort and encouragement knowing that I’m a nobody yet Jesus cares for me that He died on the cross for me. Nobody does that! Except for Jesus. He went through suffering and death just so my name will be written in the Book of Life and live with Him eternally. He has so much compassion for me because He doesn’t want me to go to hell.
This message is perfect timing
I’m so thankful for the lords pursuit for me
I’m a single mother of 3 kids
Two separate relationships and the fathers are absent.
It just didn’t work because I pursing these men, I’m going through a pruning season, God is healing me while it may hurt.
I’m so thankful for God’s love and his pursuit for me even after all my brokenness and trails of love that I have been seeking
I’m now seeking him to fulfill my heart
Thank you for letting me share
Please keep me prayers
Where and when will it be available so I can purchase NEVER LESS THAN: Living Esteemed, Empowered, and Equipped When the World Tells You Otherwise
Author
It’s available now.
It’s overwhelming! The God of the universe pursued/pursuing me? I feel totally unworthy and a rotten scoundrel yet God loves me. I also feel worthy that a sinner like me is salvageable. Voices tell me that I’m not worth it. I’m unsalvageable, I’m too dirty and a nobody. God would not tolerate me, but it’s totally opposite. God cares and is kind to me. He gives me second chance and He doesn’t stop loving me. He does not condemn me. I’m so grateful to be pursued otherwise I would not have hope and be doomed for hell all my life. It’s a privilege to be pursued by God, definitely!
I am greatful that God pursues me.
Spending most of the last 16 yrs in severe depression has made it especially hard to trust God and love Him the way He deserves to be loved. My husband was especially irritable and mean to me during my recovery from a mastectomy 6 weeks ago. I cried much over the thought of a failing marriage. Yesterday a good looking, gentle, kind and attentive man extended his hand and introduced himself to me in a Drs waiting room after we chatted about health issues. I can’t seem to get out of my head how I felt. I long for a relationship like we had in those 10 minutes. I desperately need to be treated like I am good enough. That I am worth the effort it takes. That I am more than an irritation.
Being reminded that God pursues me is what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you ❤️