Permission to Sit
by Katie Harding on January 10, 2024
If there is one thing that is consistent among women I know (including myself), it’s that we spend little time just sitting — especially when we are tired. We don’t give ourselves permission to sit at all. We look at our list of what still needs to be done, and despite the weariness we feel, we just keep going, putting one tired foot in front of the other.
As I was reading the story of the woman at the well in John 4 recently, I came upon a phrase I never really noticed before. “…Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well.” Jesus was only halfway through His day, and yet, He took time to sit because He was tired. Among all the actions Jesus modeled for us, this one is often overlooked. Instead of breezing right past it, maybe we need to stop and pause and take in the truth of this important task. Jesus was tired, so He took a few moments to sit…by Himself.
Several years ago, I heard Julia Font, author of A Minute to Think, describe a scenario of walking into someone’s office and seeing them with their feet up on the desk and eyes gazing out the window, as if they were daydreaming. These days, because we are so used to continuous activity — even in what we call “resting,” we might conclude the person is wasting time by doing nothing. However, years ago — before the invention of personal computers — if we happened upon that same scene, we would have assumed perhaps the person was deep in thought.
There is something to be said for giving yourself time to just sit and have “whitespace” as Julia calls it, especially when you feel tired. Listening to our bodies and giving our minds the opportunity to clear can actually refill our tanks and clarify our intentions. I believe Jesus understood this well because He not only took the time to sit or withdraw from others regularly, but it was significant enough that John and others mentioned it in their writings.
Taking time to sit allowed Jesus to do three things in this passage.
1. It allowed Him to be present. When the woman came to the well to draw water, He asked her for a drink and engaged her in conversation. “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). Sometimes just a little rest can give us the energy to enter into new relationships.
2. It allowed Him to proclaim truth. When questioned by the woman as to the proper place to worship, describing the discrepancy between the Samaritans and the Jews. Jesus answered, “God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4: 24). Sometimes a little rest can help us express truth clearly.
3. It allowed Him to state His purpose. Upon the disciples return, Jesus refused their offer of food and said, “My food is to do the will of Him who send Me, and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34). Sometimes just a little rest can give us a few moments to reflect and remember why we do what we do.
Next time you feel tired, instead of pushing through the fatigue, give yourself permission to sit, just as Jesus did. Put your feet up, gaze out your window, and take a moment to refocus your thoughts. It’s amazing how your body can benefit from even a few minutes of rest. Try it. See for yourself!
The photo above is the view from my sofa when sitting and gazing out the window.