Drinking from the right well.
In Mark Chapter 1, we witness an astonishing sequence of events—the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. John the Baptist proclaims Him. The Father affirms Him. The Spirit empowers Him. Jesus resists temptation, preaches with authority, calls disciples, casts out demons, and heals the sick. His fame spreads rapidly, and the crowds multiply.
Yet in the midst of this growing momentum, Mark 1:35 gives us a glimpse into the source of Jesus’ life and power:
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
With miracles breaking out and crowds pressing in, why would Jesus withdraw to pray? Why not ride the wave of success?
He knew where true life was found. Jesus drank from the right well—the presence of His Father.
What Well Are You Drinking From?
We are all driven by desire. As Christian philosopher James K.A. Smith puts it, “We are what we love.” Our hearts instinctively chase things—success, relationships, achievements, social status—hoping they’ll satisfy us. But these wells inevitably run dry.
The Samaritan woman in John 4 knew this ache. She had sought fulfillment in relationships, yet her soul remained thirsty. Then Jesus offered her something radically different:
“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.”
She encountered the presence of God—and everything changed. She left her water jar behind and ran to tell others. Her soul had finally found what it was made for.
It’s not always obvious when our hearts are misaligned. Sometimes, it’s not the bad things that distract us—it’s the good things in the wrong place.
Let’s look at the story of Abraham and Isaac.
The Throne of the Heart
God gave Abraham a promise—he and Sarah would have a son. Against all odds, Isaac is born, and the promise is fulfilled.
But the story doesn’t end there.
God later calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham makes the trek up to the mountain with Isaac and builds the altar. As he places Isaac on the altar and begins to raise the knife, the Lord intervenes and stops him. This is a crazy story! What was God doing?!
I love A.W. Tozer’s commentary here. He paraphrases what he believes God was saying to Abraham:
“I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there.”
This narrative shows us that even good things can occupy the wrong place in our hearts. The Lord knows the danger when anything—even His own promises—takes His place.
The promise only has value because of the One who gives it. Jesus is our ultimate model of what it looks like for someone to have the right things occupying the right place. He drank from the right well.
Jesus Prioritized the Presence of God
The disciples saw Jesus do the impossible—heal the sick, cast out demons, multiply food, even raise the dead. Yet the one thing they asked Him to teach them was how to pray (Luke 11:1). They recognized the secret: prayer was the source of His power and intimacy with the Father.
Jesus—fully God, fully human—modeled a life anchored in communion with God. Before major decisions, after long days of ministry, and in moments of sorrow, He withdrew to pray. His identity wasn’t rooted in the applause of the crowd but in the voice of the Father.
Henri Nouwen once asked himself, “What is turning my vocation to be a witness to God’s love into a tiring job?” He realized he had been speaking more about God than with Him. Writing more about prayer than actually praying.
We face the same danger—doing stuff for God while neglecting time with God.
Leaving the Wrong Wells Behind
What wells have you been drinking from? Money? Social media? Career success? Have promises taken the place of the Promiser?
Even good things can produce negative results when they replace the presence of God.
But the invitation of Jesus still stands:
“Come to me…”
The veil has been torn. Access is open. The question is—will we take it? Will we draw near?
Will we drink from the well of God’s Presence?
A life disconnected from God will have to find its meaning, purpose, and identity somewhere. Let God bring definition to your life.
Reflective Questions to Consider
What have I been turning to for comfort, identity, or fulfillment?
Have I unintentionally placed good things above God on the throne of my heart?
When was the last time I simply enjoyed being in God’s presence without needing to “do” something?
What might it look like to rearrange my life around prioritizing the presence of God?