When God Sends Us to Samaria

“Now he had to go through Samaria.” — John 4:4 (NIV)

In Chapter 8 of Well Moments, there is a line that really stuck with me: “We all have Samaria’s in our own life.”  Biblically, Samaria was a place people intentionally avoided, but Jesus chose to go there. And when He arrived, He didn't just pass through. He stopped. He had a conversation. He listened. He saw someone others had judged and overlooked.

That made me think about what going to Samaria looks like at Hope Street.

Sometimes our Samaria is sitting down with a member when we have a million other things to do. Sometimes it’s having a difficult conversation instead of avoiding it. It can be giving someone another opportunity, listening to a story we don’t fully understand, or choosing to see the person instead of their behavior, habits, past, or current situation.

And sometimes, our Samaria is simply being willing to go toward what makes us uncomfortable.  Hope Street itself was once described as a Samaria; a place others may have avoided. But God saw something worth going toward.

That’s what we get to do every day. We go toward people. We meet them where they are. We listen. We love. We protect. We build community. And we cultivate hope.  We may not always understand why God sends us to certain people or places, but when He sees fit to send us to our Samaria, I pray we are willing to go.

Because somebody may be waiting at the well for us to simply show up.

Father, give us courage to go toward people and situations we might naturally avoid. Teach us to slow down, listen, be present, and see people the way You do. Help us remember that no person, neighborhood, or situation is beyond Your reach. Continue to make Hope Street a place where people are seen, loved, protected, and reminded that their story is not over. And wherever You see fit to send us, give us the obedience to go.

Amen,

Shayla