I've struggled to be in the word (Christian-eese for reading the Bible) as I should be lately. Allowing the busyness of life to overcome time, I have made excuses as to why and whatnot. This morning I heard the Spirit calling me. After personal time sitting with him, I opened my Bible as He asked and when I opened my eyes He had brought me to the woman at the well (John 4). I kind of giggled as much of the page was marked up and I’ve read the story countless times. But suddenly two unmarked places stood out.

John 3:30 John the Baptist says "He must increase and I must decrease"

In John 4 (Verses 1 thru 43) Jesus has met the woman and the story we know takes place. The woman comes to the well where Jesus is just chill’n and thirsty. As a woman, she was already regarded as a second-rate citizen but she was also a foreigner. These two combined pretty much meant she was a reject, lower class, and what would be considered a general leech on society (changes our point of view right? How terrible social classes are.) This was the person Christ chose to be the FIRST person to spread his word. A reject. A messed up woman was who He chose to launch his project, His entire lifes purpose.

Jesus speaks with her and tells her about her whole life essentially. He honors her by speaking to her as an equal human being and speaking to her in kindness. She goes away knowing she had met the promised savior. Then the woman sets out to tell everyone she runs into about what happened at the well. Christ had given her the gift of grace, empowerment, and confidence. Just His voice was sufficient to empower her to become her best self; fearless, bold and SHAMELESS. 

However, as she spoke her truth to foreigners and outcasts alike, they came to "BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN…."  They spread the word among themselves and came back to her to say " IT IS NO LONGER BECAUSE OF YOU WE BELIEVE, FOR WE HAVE HEARD FOR OURSELVES..."  I don’t know about you but the immediate feeling I had was “Wait, what?! You’re telling me that now after all that she had been through in just that short of a time her sense of purpose was stripped from her?!”  I pondered on how I would feel gaining such dignity only to no longer be needed. Like my time had passed too fast. And enter… SHAME.

Then it struck me... No matter the size of the ripple we send, it can come back tenfold (Funny how He mentions that in scripture. And yes, that was sarcasm.) The confidence of each of those people blossomed WITHOUT her. Her little ripple was used, and each of those people became believers on their own. A private and personal development. Instead of her feeling obsolete, she did her part and was now blessed to live among family in faith. No more striving, she just faithfully followed her purpose and then stepped back.... She “DECREASED.”

And it was her superpower.

It was what God had asked of her. That time was her purpose! And her reward? Her reward was a peaceful progression to contentment among her community with newfound courage and empowerment. She was blessed to ENJOY the remainder of her time on earth. That simple. Her purpose wasn’t taken from her. It’s all about perspective. Reframed, we can see that she had satisfied her purpose. Her new purpose was JOY. 

Decreased into complete surrender she can find freedom and JOY; true reckless abandonment in joy and peace.