i have listened to this podcast 3 times this week. it's jon acuff as a guest speaker at kairos. it's about "plan B." the first part is just kinda funny. i loved it. listen here.
God just really spoke to me. convicting and encouraging all at once.
Jon talks about how God asks for everything from us.... but we don't want to give him everything... we're often scared that if we give him everything we are going to be miserable. if I give Him my friendships then i'm going to be that weirdo whose hobby is Jesus. If i give him my hopes and dreams then i'm are going to be forced to sell everything i have and move to africa to be a missionary. if i give him my dating relationships then i'm going to have to become a nun or be miserable.
if the first thing God is going to do with us when we give him everything is the worst thing we can imagine.... thats a pretty horrible god...what does that say about who we think he is and his character?
what does that mean if thats the first thing we expect from God? how twisted is our perception of how he does our lives and how he loves us?
Jon explains hearing God speak to him while praying one day. His book was about to be released and he wondered... what if God allows this book to fail to teach me a lesson? and he says that He just heard God say to him,
why is misery the only lab you'll allow me? why is failure the only place you think i can teach? you know how to mourn with me but not dance... you know how to cry with me but not laugh. what better way to show my true character which is goodness than through goodness? why cant i teach in joy? do you not think a father who holds his newborn child experiences my love and my pleasure?
why is misery the only place you'll see me?
thats what we do. we hold it all together. and give God the God parts sunday morning.
then he read one of my favorite verses:
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
zephaniah 3:17
i loved this message because so often i do relate to God this way. I think surrendering my life to Him completely sounds really scary. there are times when I truly trust and just let go. it's getting easier. and there are parts that are easier to let Him have. But often I am so scared of what He will do with me if I give Him all of it.
why is it that i expect that I can't trust Him with my life? Hasn't He promised me that He works everything for the good of those who love Him? Hasn't He promised good gifts for His children? why do I think I know what's best for me more than He does?
He takes great delight in me.
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