SIMPLE40 - DAY 17 - Wonder at the Well
- Katie Donahue
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
Wonder is the grace of seeing again for the first time. It is the ability to look at God’s creation, and at your own life, with fresh eyes, receiving it as gift rather than grasping at it as possession. When you cultivate wonder, your heart softens. You slow down. You begin to notice. And in noticing, you discover that God has been there all along.
This year, as we walk the path of simplicity together, wonder feels especially important. A cluttered heart cannot marvel. A distracted soul cannot be amazed. But when we begin to clear away noise, excess, and self-reliance, space opens up...and in that space, awe returns.
Scripture is filled with what we call “wonders.” In the Old Testament, God parts seas, rains down manna, and leads His people with fire and cloud. In the New Testament, the wonder becomes even more intimate. God does not simply act, He comes near. He sits. He speaks. He thirsts.
Yesterday’s Gospel (John 4:5-42) brings us to the well with Photina, the Samaritan woman. Imagine her surprise. She arrives in the heat of the day, carrying the weight of her story, expecting nothing more than water, and instead she encounters the Messiah.
There is such simplicity in this scene. No thunder. No spectacle. Just a weary traveler asking for a drink.
And yet, what wonder.
Through Jesus’ gentle pursuit, Photina experiences profound conversion. He names her truth without shaming her. He reveals Himself without overwhelming her. And when she realizes who He is, something shifts. The jars she came carrying no longer matter. She leaves them behind, much like the fishermen leave their nets, because she has found something infinitely greater.
Her heart overflows. “Come and see,” she tells the others. Wonder always becomes invitation.
Jesus is pursuing you in the same way.
He thirsts for your heart, not the polished version, but the real one. He does not wait for you to fix yourself. In fact, He seems drawn to the very places you would rather hide: your mess, your questions, your regrets, your longing. He meets you there, in the ordinary rhythm of your day, and speaks truth with disarming simplicity.
The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”~John 4:25–26
This is where simplicity and wonder intersect so beautifully. Both require surrender. Both ask us to loosen our grip on control. Both invite us to be fully present and willing to be surprised.
When you encounter something truly wondrous, as Photina did, you cannot script the outcome. And when you begin to simplify your life, you must release what once felt secure or familiar in order to receive something truer.
This week, ask for the grace to notice. To pause. To be amazed again.
Watch the short clip from The Chosen where Jesus meets Photina at the well. As you do, pay attention to the simplicity of Jesus...His tone, His posture, His patience...and the growing wonder in Photina’s eyes as she begins to understand who is speaking to her.
Where might Jesus be waiting for you today?
spiritual
As you think of the story of the woman at the well, ask yourself these questions and take a moment to journal (written or spoken) on what pops up in your heart. Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is? How can you identify with the woman at the well? What is holding you back from accepting God's love? How is God pursuing you? About 33 years ago, my husband went to a "Promise Keepers" conference in Texas. He brought home a cassette tape with some praise and worship songs on it that we listened to pretty regularly. One of the songs engraved a special place in my soul and I have found myself singing it interiorly and out loud almost daily as a reminder of who God is and my desire to come to know Him. It is sung so beautifully by Steffany Gretzinger on her most recent album.
Click the link to listen: More Precious than Silver
Lord, you are more precious than silver. Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds. And nothing I desire compares with You.
self
Review your Lenten sacrifices and recommit to doing without.... (coffee, alcohol, bread, sugar, snacks, etc) ....do it for JESUS.
It's only 40 days and you are almost halfway there!
Keep moving forward...
It's not too late to write your Lenten plan down if you have not already done it. Simply print this little postcard out and jot down your commitments to grow closer to Christ. You do not have to commit to all the areas...do what is meaningful and challenging at the same time. One of you that is following along reached out last week and shared that you are really trying to make this Lent different by simplifying commitments to be successful and grow spiritually. Trying to do "all the things" can be overwhelming and too much, which takes away the purpose of simplicity and growing spiritually. Her goal is to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, morning and evening prayer, dutifully...every day. That's it. The other components come easier because they have already been a semi-consistent part of her life (exercise, social media fast and serving others). But, spiritually, she wants to integrate this new habit of praying the universal prayer of the Church daily. Talk about keeping it SIMPLE...just choose one thing and do it consistently form now until Easter.
It’s not too late to write down your Lenten plan if you have not done so already. Simply print out this little postcard and jot down your commitments to grow closer to Christ. You do not need to commit to every area...choose what is both meaningful and realistically challenging for you.
One of you who has been following along reached out last week and shared that you are trying to make this Lent different by simplifying your commitments so that you can be faithful and truly grow spiritually. Trying to do all the things can quickly become overwhelming, and that defeats the purpose of simplicity and intentional spiritual growth. Her goal this Lent is simply to pray the Liturgy of the Hours - Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer - every day. That’s it. The other elements (exercise, a social media fast, and serving others) already have some rhythm in her life. But spiritually, she wants to focus on integrating this new habit of praying the universal prayer of the Church each day.
Talk about keeping it simple. Choose one thing, commit to it, and practice it faithfully from now until Easter. Consistency in even one small devotion can open the door to deep spiritual growth.
service
Follow the lead of Photina today and proclaim the love and mercy of God to someone. Notice, she did not wait until she had a theology degree, a perfectly ordered life, or all the answers. She simply shared her encounter. She told the truth about who she had met.
“Come and see.”
Evangelization, at its heart, is not argument...it is always an invitation.
You have something real to share. If you have encountered Christ’s patience in your weakness, His forgiveness in your failure, His peace in your anxiety, then you carry living water within you. The world is thirsty for exactly that.
Today, ask the Holy Spirit to show you one person. It may be:
a family member who is struggling quietly
a friend who feels far from the Church
a coworker who needs encouragement
or even a stranger who simply needs to be seen
Proclaiming God’s love does not have to be dramatic. It may look like:
offering to pray for someone, and actually doing it right then and there on the spot
speaking hope instead of joining in gossip or negativity
sharing how God has worked in your own life
extending mercy where resentment would be easier
choosing kindness when indifference would go unnoticed
Photina ran back to her town not with a polished speech, but with joy. Her authenticity was compelling. Your authenticity will be too.
Remember: you are not responsible for the outcome. You are responsible only for fidelity. The same Jesus who met you in your mess is already at work in the hearts of those you encounter. He simply asks you to cooperate.
Be not afraid. You are His hands and feet.
Let your life say, in word and in action:“I have met Someone who knows me completely and loves me still.”
simple recipe
BAKED OATMEAL This is so good! I (or my kids) make this regularly for breakfast. We like to eat it warm with fresh fruit and/or yogurt. 1⁄2 cup butter, melted 1⁄2 cup organic coconut sugar (can use sucanat or brown sugar) 1 cup Whole Milk (can use coconut milk or oat milk) 1⁄2 cup yogurt, plain or vanilla 1 Tbsp cinnamon 3 cups rolled oats 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed 2 eggs, beaten 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 - 2 apples, peeled and diced (optional - but recommended) Directions Mix melted butter, sugar, milk, yogurt, cinnamon, oats and flaxseed until combined. (You can let this sit overnight if you want) Add eggs, baking powder and salt. Fold in apples last. Preheat oven to 350 and bake in a greased 9x13 pan for 25-30 min or until set. Top with yogurt and berries.
Thank you for following along. If you are enjoying SIMPLE40, please share with a friend. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you!
katie@integratedlife.co
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