Who are you? As a blogger I wondered who read these words I hurl into cyberspace four times a week. Thank you to all of you who took the time to give me some feedback and insight into who glances at my writings by filling out the survey I sent out a couple of weeks ago. How wonderful to meet you as a whole.
One question generated a slew of interesting answers and remains one we probably all need to ponder.
What do you struggle with?
I thought I would try to group some of the answers to share with you today and promise to bring many of them back to this space for our conversations in the future.
One big struggle for many of us is finding time, keeping God as our first priority, and being consistent in spiritual practices.
We also wrestle with trusting God, especially in times when he can’t hear him and wonder if he is hearing us.
Quite a few people mentioned their lack of self worth, and self-esteem, self-doubts, discouragement, alone-ness and knowing God/Jesus really loved them without condition.
Others brought up their desire for deeper prayer, centering, reflecting, listening, and letting God be God in their lives.
Also listed were difficulties and the work in sharing our faith with family, church and community.
I struggle with all these also. And I believe it is in the process of exploring these questions and issues, we find God.
Who are we? We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world held in the hands of a perfect God.
Even King David wondered about who he was in 2 Samuel 7:18-29:
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
Henri Nouwen wrote:
This is a movement toward full incarnation.
It leads you to become what you already are–a child of God;
it lets you embody more and more the truth of your being;
it makes you claim the God within you.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine.”
What do you think of the answers to that reader question? What do you struggle with the most?
What a wonderful post. We can struggle with each of the above mentioned areas as different times of our lives. I know that I surely have. I loved that you stated we are “imperfect people living in an imperfect world held in the hands of a perfect God.” Amen! And I am so grateful for His hands holding me! You included beautiful quotes by both Eleanor Roosevelt & Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Thank you so much for this post today! Blessings!!!
What a wonderful post. We can struggle with each of the above mentioned areas as different times of our lives. I know that I surely have. I loved that you stated we are “imperfect people living in an imperfect world held in the hands of a perfect God.” Amen! And I am so grateful for His hands holding me! You included beautiful quotes by both Eleanor Roosevelt & Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Thank you so much for this post today! Blessings!!!
This survey fascinated me and gave me a real glimpse into how we all struggle with many of the same issues. I felt community when reading it and lots of compassion.
Hi Nancy, Isn’t it great we have a God who loves and guides us. I am amazed and surprised when I realize that – should know that by now but it continues to put me in awe. Blessing on you dear friend.
hey have you thought more of going to Florida Christian Writers Conference? The info is up and I am really thinking about it. Would be so cool to meet you in person.
Hi Dawn, I love almost everything I read that Nouwen writes, He is a favorite of mine. It certainly is an interesting list to ponder
You are so right, Mia, like a little child. one of most favorite and comforting image of our father, our Papa. Glad to share the reading hobby with you dear friend
I thought the answers were very insightful, honest and in fact some broke my heart. So much hurt and pain out there.
“We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, held in the hands of a perfect God.” Love that. In spite of my failings, God will always love me, guide me, hold me, indwell me. Incredible! Thank you, Jean, for such an uplifting reminder.
“We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, held in the hands of a perfect God.” Love that. In spite of my failings, God will always love me, guide me, hold me, indwell me. Incredible! Thank you, Jean, for such an uplifting reminder.
Hi Nancy, Isn’t it great we have a God who loves and guides us. I am amazed and surprised when I realize that – should know that by now but it continues to put me in awe. Blessing on you dear friend.
hey have you thought more of going to Florida Christian Writers Conference? The info is up and I am really thinking about it. Would be so cool to meet you in person.
Reminds me of the verse that our struggles as believers are common to all of us in Christ…I love the Nouwen quote. We are not so different in our struggles after all…and we can recognize that the enemy will target each of these areas as we walk through this life. Oh, perspective…are these not all part and par for the course to some degree of our human condition? We desire perfection…but that is for the place we will ultimately be. Maybe it is in these gaps He grows us into recognizing Him better, ourselves better and into grace better…until that time we become that which we are to Him, already? I wonder….hugs, Jean!
Reminds me of the verse that our struggles as believers are common to all of us in Christ…I love the Nouwen quote. We are not so different in our struggles after all…and we can recognize that the enemy will target each of these areas as we walk through this life. Oh, perspective…are these not all part and par for the course to some degree of our human condition? We desire perfection…but that is for the place we will ultimately be. Maybe it is in these gaps He grows us into recognizing Him better, ourselves better and into grace better…until that time we become that which we are to Him, already? I wonder….hugs, Jean!
Hi Dawn, I love almost everything I read that Nouwen writes, He is a favorite of mine. It certainly is an interesting list to ponder
Dear Jean
I sometimes think we should become so much more like a little child, knowing that, as well as being omnipresent, He intimately lives in each one of His children and depend on our Pappa for even the faith we cannot muster up on our own!! We should daily ask our Pappa to draw us deeper into His life and to reveal Himself to us. He just loves doing that. I like the fact that you are so well-read, dear friend! This is a hobby we both share.
Blessings XX
Mia
Dear Jean
I sometimes think we should become so much more like a little child, knowing that, as well as being omnipresent, He intimately lives in each one of His children and depend on our Pappa for even the faith we cannot muster up on our own!! We should daily ask our Pappa to draw us deeper into His life and to reveal Himself to us. He just loves doing that. I like the fact that you are so well-read, dear friend! This is a hobby we both share.
Blessings XX
Mia
You are so right, Mia, like a little child. one of most favorite and comforting image of our father, our Papa. Glad to share the reading hobby with you dear friend
Interesting isn’t it? Self-doubt seems to be a big issue with many people-especially women. We will never be good enough without the blood of Jesus. Interesting comments.
Interesting isn’t it? Self-doubt seems to be a big issue with many people-especially women. We will never be good enough without the blood of Jesus. Interesting comments.
I thought the answers were very insightful, honest and in fact some broke my heart. So much hurt and pain out there.