I got started on this week's study today, and I just wanted to say that I'm loving it! I felt as though I wanted to underline everything she said. I especially loved her intro about "staying" when it gets hard. It's so refreshing to me to hear her say more than just how awesome life with Jesus is and to get honest about the fact that it's also HARD. I love the promises of life with Jesus; in fact, the full life, redemption and transformation he offers are some of my favorite things to think about. But my reality much more often is that I'm just trying to keep believing those promises while my idols call out to me and tempt me to the "easier" solutions they offer. Sometimes I just need to be encouraged to stay, and I need someone else to tell me that God is working out my faith in greater ways than I can imagine. That's what Kelly is doing for me today.
With that lesson on staying, I also resonated with Day 1's idea that walking away from our idols is a lifelong process. I'm totally with Kelly that "I am more accustomed to a gradual process" (p. 146) even though I'm always hoping for the miraculous healing. I need to keep remembering that and asking God to help me be okay in the process, especially since the process is lifelong. I think it's the perfectionist/all or nothing ideology in me that feels the need to get it all right before I'm acceptable to God, myself or anyone else. When I write it down, it's sounds utterly ridiculous because I obviously can't even come close to getting it all right, but day to day it seems so true. Anyone relate?
I can't take the time to write more now, but I am excited about this week and just thought I'd get some thoughts out here again for us Noggies to consider.
By the way, we do have a wedding talk written, so I'm thankful about that. Of course, being me I must second guess it (and third guess it and fourth guess it...), but I know the ideas in it are God's truth and am just praying His Spirit will make it come out like it's supposed to!
Mental hugs to all,
Beth
1 comment:
Thanks for the mental hug, Beth! :) And the reminder to stay when it feels easier or more appealing to run to one idol or another. That concept from the intro. resonated with me, too, but today I'm needing the reminder. I feel like I'm living out the line that said, "When you're too weary and disillusioned to do anything else, keep staying." I'm banking on the fact that "He's moving in ways you can't even dream of."
Praying we'll all have staying power enough to see His promises fulfilled. Have a wonderful weekend! I'm already looking forward to next Tues. night!
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