An Introvert's Challenge

"Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'"

~ John 4:6-7

I am an introvert. Many of the memes and clichés about introverts would describe me.

For example, if I am in a room full of strangers, I'm not going to be one of those crazy people in the middle of the room introducing themselves to everyone. Instead, I'll be standing on the edge of the crowd, by the wall, waiting for people to come and introduce themselves to me. I'm happy to have a conversation with anyone, but I'm equally happy to wait until someone approaches me.

The reason I share this with you is because earlier this week I attended a discovery bible study where we discussed the story of the woman at the well from John 4:1-26. In this story Jesus and his followers are on a journey to Galilee via Samaria, and they stop for a break by a well. His followers go into town to get food, leaving Jesus on his own.

While he's resting, a Samaritan woman comes to draw water and Jesus asks her for a drink. This is shocking to both the woman and the reader because (a) men in this culture would not usually initiate a conversation with a lone woman, and (b) Jews would never have interactions with Samaritans. But here Jesus, a Jewish man, initiates conversation with a Samaritan woman.

As we began to share our observation about the story, one person in the group mentioned she noticed how Jesus began his culturally inappropriate interaction with the woman in the most culturally appropriate way at his disposal - his conversation starter was to ask the woman for a drink. For some reason, this observation stuck with me throughout the discussion.

When it came time to set our intention for the week ahead (an intention is simply how we intend to live out what we learned in the week ahead, and it's usually framed with the statement, "I will...") we sat in silence for a minute to ask God what he'd like us to do.

For me, I couldn't shake that observation of Jesus initiating conversation with someone, and then going with the flow of the conversation to share a challenging word of encouragement with the woman. In the end, my intention was, "I will initiate a conversation with two strangers this week, and see where it goes."

As an introvert, that intention goes against everything I would normally do, but I strongly felt that this is what God wanted for me.

So why am I telling you this?

Normally, when it comes to our spiritual formation, God works within our personalities, passions, and unique make-up to form the character of Christ within us and help us become spiritually and emotionally mature. That's why certain spiritual practices deeply resonate with some and not at all with others.

And that's OK!

For example, if you like to read and write, journalling may be a great spiritual practice for you. However, someone else may feel that having to journal every day would be a burden they dread. Yet that same person may love to go for a walk and listen to an audio Bible.

We are all different, and there is such a plethora of spiritual practices that we can all find something to which we would look forward every day.

But that doesn't mean we should stay with what's comfortable all the time. Sometimes, for our growth and maturity, God wants to stretch us beyond what's comfortable so that we continue to develop as people and as followers of Jesus. For the walker and Bible listener, that may be a season of journalling. For the journaller, that may be putting down the pen for a season and connecting with God another way.

For me, it's starting conversations with strangers.

I don't know why I felt the Holy Spirit lead me this way, but I trust that if I correctly heard God speak through my gut feelings, it will be for my growth and my good, not to mention for whatever will come from those conversations. So I'm putting that out there - you can ask how the conversations went next Sunday.

PAUSE and REFLECT:

Where might God be inviting you to grow? Is there an uncomfortable thing you sense you need to do? Are you trying to talk yourself out of a difficult action, justifying why you don't actually need to do that thing? Or perhaps God is inviting you to relate to him a new way for a season.

If that's the case, I strongly encourage you to follow through. When God nudges us toward a certain action, it is for our good, and perhaps the good of others as well.

So take a moment to ask, and another moment to listen. It's good to figure out how we want to connect with God, but it's even better to figure out how God wants to connect with us. Where does God want to deepen you faith, grow your character, and increase your maturity?

If it's in a way that is comfortable for you, that's great! If it's in a way that is uncomfortable for you, that's also great!

Follow him and find out how great it can be.