I’ve had my share of dry seasons in my spiritual life. I’ve had times when my Bible study felt dull, when God seemed to be silent, when a cloud appeared to be hanging over my head. And my dry seasons weren’t for a lack of effort on my part. I still went to church every week. I tried different Bible studies and reading plans. I even went on mission trips to foreign countries. But there were times when I felt further from God on a mission trip than I did back home.
I’m sure you can relate. Every Christian struggles with dry seasons in their spiritual walk. Maybe you’re struggling with a dry season right now. You want to be close to God, but He feels so distant. You want to learn from God’s Word, but you can’t seem to comprehend what it’s telling you. You want to grow, bloom, and flourish in your faith, but you just feel stuck in the mud. If you’re feeling this way, Gretchen Saffles’ new book, The Well-Watered Woman, is just the book for you.
As a wife, mother, author, and small business owner, Gretchen knows firsthand how the busyness of life and the cares of this world can lead to a dry spiritual life, and in her book, she shares her journey towards becoming a Well-Watered Woman.
What is a Well-Watered Woman? In the book’s introduction, Gretchen writes,
“The goal of the Well-Watered Woman isn’t to be someone but to know someone – the one who changes everything. Her ambitions and dreams are being transformed by Jesus as he shows her, day by day, the better way to live.”[1]
The Well-Watered Woman is a woman who knows Jesus and is being transformed by Him, day in and day out. This pursuit of becoming well-watered is based on Isaiah 58:11, which says,
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11, NIV
The Well-Watered Woman relies upon and is satisfied in Jesus, and she is strengthened by Him, even in dark times and dry places. And Gretchen shares how we, too, can find this growth, strength, and true satisfaction.
Gretchen’s book is split up into three sections, the three stages of the well-watered journey – the Well, the Word, and the Way. In the Well section, Gretchen encourages her readers to be rooted in truth. We are imperfect women, yet we can find our true identity in Christ. We are called to deny ourselves and find fulfillment in Him, rather than in the things of this world. We are to trust God, for there is nothing we can do to help or save ourselves.
In the Word section, Gretchen charges her readers to grow in Christ. We must put Christ first in our lives. We do this by abiding in Him and remembering what He has done for us. We are commanded to rely on Him in every season (even the dry ones!) and fight our spiritual battles from the victory that He has already secured.
In the Way section, Gretchen leads her readers to flourish in their faith. We, as Well-Watered Women, embrace sanctification and are faithful even in the small things. We follow Jesus in everything and lead those around us to do the same. Becoming a Well-Watered isn’t easy, but it is so worth it.
Near the end of the book, Gretchen reminds her readers that God has meaning for every moment in our lives, including our current moments, our dry moments, our dull moments. Therefore, even in our current, dry, dull moments, we must root ourselves in God and His Word.
“If we have rooted ourselves in the shallow soil of this world – in what we do and what we can accomplish in life – we will struggle to survive the storms. Only when we’re rooted in Christ can we experience a life that is real, secure, and free.”[2]
The Well-Watered Woman is a fantastic book, and I was honored to be a part of its launch team. I’ve followed Gretchen on Instagram for some time, and I loved getting to hear more of her personal stories, her plant tales, and her heart for Jesus. Plus, the cover is BEAUTIFUL and would be a perfect addition to any bookshelf, coffee table, or nightstand. If you’re looking to grow in your faith or you’re currently in a dry season spiritually, I recommend that you pick up Gretchen’s book today and begin your journey towards becoming a Well-Watered Woman.
*I received my copy of this book from Gretchen Saffles and Tyndale in exchange for participating in the launch team and giving an honest review.
[1] Gretchen Saffles, The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith (Carol Stream: Tyndale Momentum, 2021), 6.
[2] Ibid., 18.
