The Woman at the Well: Why Jesus Uses Our Stories
You don’t need a perfect past or polished words for Jesus to use your story.

Nathaniel Bingham •
July 14, 2026

3 Minute Read

A lot of us think God only uses people who have everything figured out.

People with the right words. The right background. A clean past. A perfect testimony.

But the story of the woman at the well in John 4 shows us something completely different.

Jesus meets a Samaritan woman while she is drawing water. She is someone others may have judged or avoided, and her life is complicated. Jesus knows her whole story, including the parts she probably wishes she could hide.

And still, He chooses to sit with her.

Jesus does not shame her. He does not ignore her past, but He also does not let her past define her. He offers her grace, truth, and what He calls “living water.”

She came to the well looking for water, but she left having encountered Jesus.

She Simply Shared What Happened

After their conversation, the woman runs back to town and tells everyone:

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
— John 4:29

She did not have all the answers.

She had not been following Jesus for years. She did not have a perfectly prepared speech.

She simply told people what happened.

That is what a testimony is.

It is not about making ourselves look impressive. It is about pointing to Jesus and saying, “This is what He has done in my life.”

Your story might sound like:

“Jesus met me when I felt alone.”

“God stayed faithful when I was struggling.”

“I was carrying shame, and Jesus showed me grace.”

“I do not understand everything, but I know He is changing me.”

Your story does not have to be dramatic to matter. It just needs to be honest.

Our Stories Point People to Jesus

John tells us that many people believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony.

Her story was not the final destination. It was an invitation.

She told people to come and see Jesus for themselves.

That is why our stories matter. When we share how God has met us, someone else may begin to believe that He can meet them too.

At SaltHouse, we believe testimony is worship. It reminds us that Jesus is still changing lives, healing people, restoring hope, and meeting us in ordinary moments.

Jesus knew the woman at the well completely, and He still used her story.

He can use yours too.

So tell the story.

You never know who may hear it and decide to come and see Jesus for themselves.

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From this Collection: Blog
July 14, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
You Don’t Need a Dramatic Story to Have a Powerful Testimony
A lot of people hear the word testimony and immediately think of something dramatic. A life-changing moment. A major breakthrough. A clear “before and after.” Those stories are powerful, but they are not the only stories God can use. Maybe you grew up in church. Maybe you cannot remember a time when you did not believe in Jesus. Maybe your faith has grown slowly through ordinary moments, difficult seasons, answered prayers, and quiet acts of obedience. That does not make your testimony less important. Faithfulness Is Still a Story The Bible is filled with dramatic stories, but it is also filled with people who simply walked with God over time. Psalm 71:17 says: “Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.” This is not just a story about one huge moment. It is a story of someone looking back and recognizing that God had been present all along. Sometimes your testimony is not, “God completely changed my life overnight.” Sometimes it is: “God has been faithful to me for years.” “Jesus has carried me through every season.” “God gave me peace when I needed it.” “He kept drawing me back when I wandered.” Those stories matter too. Ordinary Does Not Mean Unimportant It is easy to compare our stories to someone else’s and think ours is not interesting enough to share. But the power of a testimony is not found in how dramatic the story is. The power is found in who the story points to. Revelation 12:11 says: “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Our testimony is powerful because of Jesus. His grace, His sacrifice, His presence, and His faithfulness are what make the story worth telling. You do not need a shocking past to talk about the goodness of God. You do not need to exaggerate your struggles or make your story sound more impressive. You can simply be honest. Someone Needs to Hear Your Story The parts of your story that feel ordinary may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Someone may need to know that following Jesus can look like steady faithfulness. Someone may need to hear that God is present in the waiting. Someone may need encouragement that slow growth is still growth. Your story may not feel dramatic, but it can still give someone hope. At SaltHouse, we believe every story of God’s faithfulness is worth sharing. You do not need the most dramatic testimony in the room. You simply need to tell the truth about what Jesus has done in your life. That is powerful enough.

Nathaniel Bingham

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July 14, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
The Woman at the Well: Why Jesus Uses Our Stories
A lot of us think God only uses people who have everything figured out. People with the right words. The right background. A clean past. A perfect testimony. But the story of the woman at the well in John 4 shows us something completely different. Jesus meets a Samaritan woman while she is drawing water. She is someone others may have judged or avoided, and her life is complicated. Jesus knows her whole story, including the parts she probably wishes she could hide. And still, He chooses to sit with her. Jesus does not shame her. He does not ignore her past, but He also does not let her past define her. He offers her grace, truth, and what He calls “living water.” She came to the well looking for water, but she left having encountered Jesus. She Simply Shared What Happened After their conversation, the woman runs back to town and tells everyone: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” — John 4:29 She did not have all the answers. She had not been following Jesus for years. She did not have a perfectly prepared speech. She simply told people what happened. That is what a testimony is. It is not about making ourselves look impressive. It is about pointing to Jesus and saying, “This is what He has done in my life.” Your story might sound like: “Jesus met me when I felt alone.” “God stayed faithful when I was struggling.” “I was carrying shame, and Jesus showed me grace.” “I do not understand everything, but I know He is changing me.” Your story does not have to be dramatic to matter. It just needs to be honest. Our Stories Point People to Jesus John tells us that many people believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. Her story was not the final destination. It was an invitation. She told people to come and see Jesus for themselves. That is why our stories matter. When we share how God has met us, someone else may begin to believe that He can meet them too. At SaltHouse, we believe testimony is worship. It reminds us that Jesus is still changing lives, healing people, restoring hope, and meeting us in ordinary moments. Jesus knew the woman at the well completely, and He still used her story. He can use yours too. So tell the story. You never know who may hear it and decide to come and see Jesus for themselves.

Nathaniel Bingham