About the Author

Renee Swope is a Word-lover, heart-encourager, and grace-needer. She's also a wife and mom of three Joshua (27), Andrew (24), and Aster (13) and the best-selling author of "A Confident Heart" and her newest book, "A Confident Mom," released in February! Renee loves making memories with her family, creating beautiful...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Renee,
    This is beautiful!! I think every woman dreams of being pursued…sought after like a cherished treasure. That’s what Jesus does for us…for me. He pursues. He doesn’t pursue with an agenda, or expectations, or a list of “to dos”, He just pursues us until the point in which we stand still, face Him, and He tells us that He loves us just as we are. We ALL need this reminder. Thank you 🙂
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • I am so thankful for this post and reminder. While reading I went back in time 37 years ago and reflected about my day at the well.
      I was 26 years old, married already 3 times, lonely and shunned. I too avoided people who were cruel to me. Lost and alone in the quiet hours of the morning I read this story for the first time. By the time I finished the story, tears falling onto the printed pages blurred my vision. My salvation story began that day, when I realized Jesus loved me and could forgive me. My life began and was forever changed by the story of the woman at the well.
      Sam I Am,
      Linda Darlene

      • Good Morning Linda – I know exactly how you feel. I too have been married 3 times and I can totally relate to Sam. My third husband who I thought was the love of my left. Filed for divorce after 15 years of marriage. I was devastated. I could not understand why God was letting this happen to me. A friend of mine gave me the confident hear about 2 years ago when all this misery started. Initially like you I could not get through the first couple of pages without crying, in fact, I could not even read the book. I recently came across the book again and after reading these posts have decided that I am ready to get a confident heart!

        Jenny

        • Dear Jenny,
          I am so glad that my testimony, which I was hesitant to share, may have brought you some encouragement. Sometimes the healing takes awhile when the scar is deep. So glad you are ready for a confident heart!
          Nestle up close to Jesus, He will never leave or forsake you!
          Here are just a few scriptures on confidence. Proverbs 3:26, Hebrews 10:35 & I John 5:14.
          Praying for you today,
          Linda Darlene

    • Yes, sweet Bev, how deeply our hearts long to be pursued. To be seen and known. Accepted and valued now matter. what. I love how Jesus shows us through this tender, heart-revealing story that with HIM we are. Now to slow down and let Him see inside my heart today, and listen while He tells me all I need to hear, just like He did with our friend Sam that day at the well.

  2. This is a special and needed message in my life right now, a comfort and encouragement. The Lord touched my heart through your words. Thank you.

      • Good Morning Renee a dear, dear friend gave me a copy of the confident heart about 2 years ago when I was going through a transition in my life. My stepson was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer, my husband could not handle it accused me of having an affair and filed for divorce. I was devastated. Just recently I picked up the book again to start reading. It is so nice to know that my heavenly father knows the truth. I can so relate to Sam and I hope one day I will know the truth as to why my husband left me after 15 years of marriage.

  3. Oh Renee… Thank you, thank you for these words of encouragement this morning. I have been feeling so alone, so shamed, so imperfect for not being the woman the God wants me to be. I have stumbled, fallen short and questioned where he is in my life. When deep down inside I know he has been with me all all along, carrying my burdens and wiping my tears. I need him in my life more than ever and ask that all you wonderful women please pray for me.
    I have fallen to my knees and asked Jesus to take over all aspects of my life for I can’t handle it all alone. I’m tired, weak and weary. I know that I am a work in progress but I need help and prayer. Thank you! And may God bless each and every one of you today and every day!

    • Margaret, dear sister, I understand your weary 😛 So grateful to pray for you, to pray that the Lord lifts you high into His gentle arms and carries you through. You are His beautiful daughter and while James 3:2 says that we all stumble, the truth is that He loves us anyway 🙂 He loves you, dear Margaret, and we all do too 🙂 Be blessed today, dear sister, you are never alone with Christ and His body 🙂

    • Margaret, I love God’s tender heart. When I wrote this post, I wasn’t sure if anyone would need it as much as I did, but then I prayed for it to land in inboxes and be opened by hearts who needed to know, like mine, that we’re not alone. We are Loved. Pursued. Forgiven. Picked up. Listened to. Held. I’d love to pray for you.

      Jesus, thank you for letting us know we don’t have to be perfect. We dont have to stand tall and strong. We can be weak and weary. Doubtful and discouraged. We can run and you’ll be there to catch us. I pray for Margaret, your sweet child who is carrying heavy burdens and wiping salty tears. She needs You more than ever and as she surrenders to you Jesus, we pray with her that You’ll step in – to every area of her life and show her how to let go and let you handle decisions and direction. Lord, she is weak and weary, but you are strong and mighty. We trust and anticipate Your powerful presence in her life. Your infilling wisdom and hope. In JESUS name, amen.

  4. Renee, of all the glorious qualities of God that you listed, my favorite is that He doesn’t give up on us. So thankful that He has stayed faithful even when I have wandered.

    • I love that about Him too Michele. A Love that never gives up on us even when we can easily give up on ourselves, and Him. Faithful and forever good. So grateful for His pursuing love today.

  5. As a woman who is aging and looking around and wondering where the years have gone, I found this very poignant. To think that The Lord is still pursuing me and knows my in’s and out’s made me think about how special I truly am to Him. There are little things in a given day that I tend to ignore, but I know that The Lord was talking or leading me in a way that I need to be more aware of each day. My favorite verse “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” really is like thunder at times and whispers at other times. To be cherished, loved and given wisdom by a Lord who is all knowing and yet He still takes time to be with me every day of my life. I thank Him and Praise Him for being there and better yet know He is there is very amazing to me, but then that is what makes Him Lord of All..Pal

    • Isnt that the most beautiful truth? That no matter where we are in life, how long we’ve been here on this earth, or walked with Him… there’s not a day that goes by that He’s not pursuing us. I’ve been asking Him lately to help me slow down and come to Him. To sit at the well. To listen and let Him love me. Praying that for you too, Peggy.

  6. Outstanding as this precious word of God is, He loves each one of us like this, personally, intimately. Thank you for reminding us of His one of a kind love.

  7. Renee, I praise the Lord for this much needed and beautiful message that you gave. Having been through so much lately, my heart is weary. How I needed this word of the Lord’s forgiveness and love touching my whole self today, to know that love that pursues and heals with words of acceptance. Seeking Him in His word brings us to Him and Him to us so He can speak words of life, love, and truth to our tired souls, feeding us with His love and acceptance that is patient with us. May we each know His love today that never ends, His mercies that never stop, coming to each of our tender souls with love and refreshment beyond compare 🙂

    • An, I”m thanking Jesus for knowing just what your heart needed and sending His love your way. I’m sorry for all that you’re going through and pray His love that pursues and heals will lavish your hurting heart with grace and acceptance. I’m agreeing with you friend “May we each know His love today that never ends, His mercies that never stop, coming to each of our tender souls with love and refreshment beyond compare.” Amen!!

  8. The story of the woman at the well is my favorite story in the Bible. In one of her wonderful Bible studies, author and teacher, Beth Moore, notes that the woman leaves her water jug at the well when she runs back to her village to tell the others about Jesus. The reason she leaves the vessel behind: SHE is now the VESSEL to be filled with Christ’s LIVING WATER!!! How wonderful that we are made to be vessels to be filled with His refreshing and life-giving water!!! Thank you, Lord Jesus!!! Praise Your Holy Name!!!

    • This is one of my favorites too, and I love the beautiful truth Beth Moore reveals in that Sam become a vessel of Living Water – and poured out love, grace and truth on those in her neighborhood as she ran back home and invited them to come and meet a man, Messiah, who knew “everything she’d ever done.” She was known completely and felt loved extravagantly. Oh that we would know this love that sets us free!!

  9. I so needed this today!..thank you Lord for using others to remind us and encourage us in moments of need. Amen and blessings.

  10. I have recently been involved in some online classes and conversations in which we are asked to share our feelings or experiences in honest terms. Unfortunately, because I do share openly, some people feel they have permission to fix my feelings or tell me why I shouldn’t respond to my experiences in the way I do. Oh, well.

    But, I am comforted when I remember that Jesus sometimes just sits quietly and listens, even if I am not asking anything. He listens and He is there. And even though He has already shown me the perfect answer or the right way, He doesn’t boss me around or diminish the reality of my feelings. He is there. He is ready. Thank you Jesus.

    • Sweet Nancy, I am so sorry that when asked to share, you were then advised how to get over your feelings and on with your life. I know how hurtful that can be, and it really doesn’t help in the healing process. I pray that today’s post is a powerful reminded that He sits there with you, listening and letting you process where you are, what your’e feeling and then He walks with you towards hope and healing. Showing you the way deeper into His heart through your pain. He is there, every step of the way.

      Thank you for sharing. Praying for you right now.

  11. I don’t know why women do this, maybe because we are chosen vessels. When we all question and doubt ourselves aren’t we really doing that to God who chose us? But He loves us. I joined the eriter’s challenge last year and my topic “Pursuing The Prince of Peace “. We have to chase Him or let Him catch us as the case may be. It was customary for women to be passed on to relatives upon their deaths back then, whatever her situation, Jesus was right on time.

  12. For some reason that is one of my favorite stories of Jesus interactions with women. I have felt like that woman so many times in my life. This weekend is one of those times where I wanted to share it with a friend but God had other ideas. Everyone I asked to go with me had some kind of reason to not be able to go with me. So I came alone to hear what it is that he has for me that he wanted me to be here by myself. I have no idea what will.happen over the next two days but I want to be open to whatever he has for me.
    Things have been tough lately, been trying to do things in my own strength.

    • Praying you have a wonderful, sweet, intimate adventure with Jesus this weekend Kelly!! Praying for lots of reading, journaling, listening, walking and enjoying the One who knows you best and loves you most. Praying He refreshes your soul!!

  13. Love this reminder of Jesus’ constant presence, Renne. It’s my favorite of God’s promises, and one I need reminding of when the road gets hard or I get scared. Resting in His promises, remembering His constant presence.

  14. Renee,

    Thank you for the insight on the woman at the well. Woman want to be listened to and not judged for our past actions. ‘Jesus redeems our failures and restores our purpose.’ He has plans for us and woos us to Himself. Praise God He redeems our failures and doesn’t care about our past. He is so loving and kind.

    Blessings 🙂

  15. Thank you for this devotional. I trust the Lord and I know I’m special for him. But I have a son that recently lost his job but since he was a little boy he felt rejection and many other feelings. For him it hasn’t been easy. Know he feels that nothing works out in his live and that everybody abandoned him. Please can you help me pray that he can feel Jesús acceptance and love for his live. Thank you and God bless you.

    • Praying for your son right now. I know that must be so hard for your mama heart too. It’s so hard to watch our kids walk through disappointment and rejection. I am asking God to speak to him in really personal ways and for His acceptance to fill those empty places with assurance and confidence that is based not on what he can do but on who he is a child of God, created for a purpose and with God’s unfolding intentional just-in-time plans for his future.

  16. I needed this right now! The tears cannot stop. I finally waked away from a 6 1/2 year relationship that was toxic and never any good for me. I’ve felt alone, inadequate, like I couldn’t meet his standards and never would. I yearned for his love and attention and he wasn’t willing to give it. Only lies, heartache and pain. Brokenness is what I’ve been feeling and these words you shared…. I have no words to describe what it has done for me tonight. Thank You! Lord bless you! ❤️❤️❤️

  17. Thank you for sharing this. I just wrote about this same topic last week. Even though I know the truth, that I am never alone, I constantly need to be reminded.

  18. I too have felt the loneliness this summer, even wondering if He is still there walking through this jungle called life. I “just keep moving”, like Toby Mac says in his song…”it’s not over yet!!!”
    I’m sure Sam was feeling the same way that day, unaware that He was about to change her life forever. I’m just waiting for that time of encounter once again!

  19. You have a Gift. Taking “The Word” and insightfully sharing the “marrow,” in a way that embodies Jesus, and all that he is, into our very lives. Renee, Bless You, for . . .
    “As each had received a gift, use it to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10

  20. Renee and those who read this,
    I’m in need of prayer, hope, and much encouragement. I have endured being bullied by my boss for over a year. I have definitely sought help and looked for other opportunities, but I am still trapped. The last two days go down as the worst, and I walked out to my car with tears saying, “God, why have you abandoned me? Why don’t you care? I can’t take one more day in that office.” You see, I have been given an opportunity to go work in a different office – it was all lined up and ready to go – done behind my bosses back. When it came time for her to know and release me – only anger pursued out of her, and she isn’t letting me go. I’m crushed, confused, and totally wiped out (so to speak).

    This all comes at a time when my very healthy husband suffered a seizure 3 weeks ago with no known reason and receiving major injuries.

    I keep asking “why God?” “I can’t do this. I’m not strong enough.” I’m broken. Luckily I have a huge support of Christian friends, a wonderful church family, Proverbs 31, and a Christian radio station playing needed songs.

    But it’s so hard – I’m so afraid – I’m so sad from head to toe. It’s so hard to hear and believe “God is in control. God has a plan. He is working this out. Trust Him.”

    I’m praying for a miracle. That something changes immediately when I return to that office on Monday. I’m already full of anxiety to go back. How much more can a person endure? I’m afraid to ask.

    Thank you, Renee, for your ministry. You have touched me many times before and this last article was right on time.

    • I will say a prayer for you Kelly. May God give you the strength and wisdom to see you through this situation. I also ask for prayers of healing for your husband. God Bless you. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

    • You are in my prayers Kelly. God undoubtedly has given you this job and has a plan for you there. You might be the only Jesus your boss-coworkers see. This position is your ministry – embrace what God has for you. I have been in your situation so please pray for them, serve them, love them…. Then watch for your miracle to happen. It will!

    • how did it go Monday? Hopefully, you could see God’s answer in some tangible way.

  21. Dear Renee,
    The link to this message appeared in my “Important” section of my new emails. It spoke to me immediately. I am currently feeling very alone and depressed, despite the presence of an incredibly loving husband. I needed to read this today and I thank God’s intervention that lead me to it. I will be reading this one again and again in the coming days. Thank you for your ministry.
    Peace,
    Debbie

  22. You all have been a blessing to me today!
    When I think about all the things I would go back and change if I could – Past sin and Poor decisions that were not God honoring – it leaves me to feel like Sam did as well. Then the Holy Spirit brought me this:
    God is Sovereign, and knew the decisions I would make before I so foolishly made them. He allowed me to make these because He knew what it would take to bring me to a place of humility; understanding the full meaning of Grace. He knew I would be intentionally alone at the well Ready to listen, ready to accept that He is the ONLY living water!
    Praise the Lord for His infinite wisdom!

  23. I don’t know how to let Him do this. When I read the Bible all I see are all the ways I’m failing.

    • drag&fly – you are not alone. Even the disciples doubted themselves. In Romans 7:24, Paul exhibit just that. Read on into Romans chapter 8 to hear the good news. Jesus died to save us from our sins. He took away our shame. We will never be perfect, only He was perfect, but He can help you to be the person God wants you to be.

      I hope this helps you. I am praying for you.

      In Christ’s peace,
      Debbie

  24. I need to rember this when I am having bad, depressed day,which are often. We moved when I was almost 50 and haven’t made any real friends, no one at my age seems to have room for another friend. We have joined a church and love the preaching. And I know that only God, not my my incredibly patient husband, can fill that hole in my heart. I have a hard time remembering that. I pray that I can have an open heart like Sam to let God fill that hole.