Today I am pleased to feature Lanayia of Fightingforpurity101, where she shares encouragement for people committed to living a celibate lifestyle (as well as general uplifting messages about faith and God) on Tumblr. In line with this, during her interview, Lanayia divulges her insight on The Woman at the Well (her favourite woman of the Bible), why she identifies with her and what we, as modern women, can draw from The Woman at the Well's encounter with Jesus.
Who is your favourite woman of the Bible and why? What would you say that modern women can learn from her?
I'm sure you were expecting someone like Esther, Ruth, Mary or someone like that, but I'm going to throw you a curve ball and go with The Woman at the Well. I think I love her so much because the story associated with her is so awesome. What hits me the hardest about the story is how intentional Jesus was in seeking her:
He went through Samria (Jewish people usually went around the city to avoid it). He went to the well at noon (the hottest hour of the day), He turned down the chance to get food (I'm sure He was hungry), He spoke to a woman (socially unacceptable at the time), and not just any woman, a Samaritan (who Jews did not associate with)! So not only did Jesus literally go out of His way to meet with her, He met her in a private and intimate setting- not to condemn her (for her sexual history), but to forgive and show her the true gift of eternal life.
I guess I love her so much because I identify so strongly with her. There was a time I was really struggling with sexual sin, and never once did I feel Jesus call me out and/or embarrass me. Instead, He consistently loved, pursued and went out of His way to find me...not so that He could punish me, but so that He could show me true life and His true love. What a crazy love!
Related: Lessons from The Adulterous Woman on Grace
Please finish the sentence: I am a Christian woman who is...
I am a Christian woman who is beautiful because Jesus is beautiful, and I'm made in His image.
Please finish the sentence: I am a Christian woman who is not…
I am a Christian woman who does not find her value in her relationship status.
Any final words of encouragement?
Know that, despite what the world says, God says you're beautiful and literally worth dying for. Just be yourself and run after God with everything in you. Be blessed. X