Finding I AM - Bible Study for Women with Video Access
How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart
What's it about
Are you tired of searching for satisfaction in things that always leave you feeling empty? Discover the one source of fulfillment that never runs dry. This study reveals how Jesus is the great "I AM," the only one who can truly satisfy the deepest cries of your heart. Join Lysa TerKeurst on a journey through the Holy Land as you explore the seven "I AM" statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. You'll learn to stop the endless cycle of seeking and finally trade your feelings of emptiness for the wholeness of being known and loved by Him.
Meet the author
Lysa TerKeurst is a 1 New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, helping millions of women live out their faith. Through her own journey of heartbreak and healing, Lysa discovered the profound satisfaction found only in Jesus. Her vulnerability and deep biblical knowledge guide readers to replace feelings of emptiness and rejection with the truth of who God says they are, showing how He alone can fully satisfy the cries of their hearts.
The Script
The feeling of emptiness isn't always a vast, echoing void. Sometimes, it’s a quiet hum beneath the surface of a busy day, a subtle ache that persists even when everything looks right on the outside. It's the exhaustion that comes from a deficit of soul. It’s the loneliness that can settle in even when you’re surrounded by people who love you. We spend so much of our lives striving, reaching, and accumulating, hoping that the next achievement, the next relationship, or the next milestone will finally fill that hollow space. We tell ourselves we’re just tired, just stressed, just in a temporary slump. But what if that feeling is a deep, spiritual thirst for something more substantial than what the world offers?
Lysa TerKeurst knows this feeling intimately. For years, she chased satisfaction, pouring her energy into her family, her ministry, and her own ambitions, only to find herself spiritually depleted and personally broken. Her journey led her to a desperate, honest search through the scriptures for a tangible connection to God. She began to fixate on the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John, realizing they were personal invitations. This Bible study was born from that season of profound need, crafted from her own raw discovery that the emptiness she felt was a space only God could fill. As a bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa shares from the messy, authentic experience of finding her true identity in the one who says, “I AM.”
Module 1: The Universal Battle with Discontentment
Let's start with a foundational human experience: temptation. It’s not a new problem. In fact, its core mechanics haven't changed since the beginning of time. TerKeurst argues that the same strategies used against Eve in the garden are still at play today. The enemy’s goal is simple. It's to shift our focus from God's abundance to our perceived lack.
This leads to the first major insight. Temptation thrives when we fixate on the one thing we don't have. Eve lived in a perfect world. She had everything she could possibly need. Yet, the serpent masterfully drew her attention to the single forbidden tree. Suddenly, all her blessings faded into the background. Her perfect provision felt insufficient. This created a fertile ground for discontentment, which quickly led to disobedience. We see this pattern repeat everywhere. We can have a great job, a loving family, and good health. But we become obsessed with the promotion we didn't get. Or the house we can't afford. TerKeurst warns that this hyper-focus on what's missing is a spiritual danger sign. It's a signal that we're vulnerable.
So what's the defense? The most effective response to temptation is to strategically redirect your focus to God's truth. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he didn't argue or reason with Satan. He responded with Scripture. Each time, he declared, "It is written." He used God's Word as his anchor. TerKeurst offers a practical strategy for this. She calls it "Back up and Look up." When you feel the pull of discontentment, first, "back up." Create mental and spiritual distance from the object of your fixation. Then, "look up." Intentionally redirect your worship and attention toward God. This is about choosing to fill your heart with something greater. It's about remembering that only God can truly satisfy our deepest longings.