But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” John 4:32 (NLT)
Growing up, I went to church and youth group and I had lots of Christian friends. My life ran pretty smoothly and I tended to take the peace and joy I had for granted. But around age 19, things changed.
I had begun a career in emergency rescue, and being exposed to victims of gang fights, rapes, murders, accidents, child abuse, and suicides was a complete shock. I didn’t realize it right away, but the stress was taking its toll.
Every night I would go home with a huge knot in my stomach. Often, I couldn’t get the day’s pictures out of my mind. I would re-experience events, such as a four-year-old dying (even though I did everything I could to save her) or the cries of the mom who pleaded with me not to let her die (as she flat-lined in the back of the ambulance).
For a while, I actually stopped being able to access the peace and joy I had enjoyed in my life up to that point. I was being weighed down by the emotional load I faced each day.
I had been taught to go to God for the strength I needed, knowing my own wasn’t enough, but I wasn’t putting that teaching into practice. However, when I started to access the energy source Jesus was referring to in today’s verse, everything began to change.
Over the next few days, we’re going to learn how to access this spiritual energy. In the same way that this energy source empowered Jesus to reach out to a Samaritan woman even though He was physically exhausted, it can empower every aspect of your life.