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Who Are You? – 2013 Reader Survey Results

October 24, 2013 By Jean Wise


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?

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Comments

  1. blankJViola79 says

    October 25, 2013 at 11:56 am

    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!!!

  2. blankJViola79 says

    October 25, 2013 at 6:56 am

    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!!!

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 28, 2013 at 8:09 pm

      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.

  3. blankJean Wise says

    October 25, 2013 at 2:14 am

    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.

  4. blankJean Wise says

    October 25, 2013 at 2:12 am

    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

  5. blankJean Wise says

    October 25, 2013 at 2:11 am

    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

  6. blankJean Wise says

    October 25, 2013 at 2:10 am

    I thought the answers were very insightful, honest and in fact some broke my heart. So much hurt and pain out there.

  7. blankNancy Ruegg says

    October 24, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    “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.

  8. blankNancy Ruegg says

    October 24, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    “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.

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 24, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      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.

  9. blankDawn Paoletta says

    October 24, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    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!

  10. blankDawn Paoletta says

    October 24, 2013 at 7:59 am

    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!

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 24, 2013 at 9:12 pm

      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

  11. blankMia says

    October 24, 2013 at 12:58 pm

    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

  12. blankMia says

    October 24, 2013 at 7:58 am

    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

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 24, 2013 at 9:11 pm

      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

  13. blankClella says

    October 24, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    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.

  14. blankClella says

    October 24, 2013 at 7:36 am

    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.

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 24, 2013 at 9:10 pm

      I thought the answers were very insightful, honest and in fact some broke my heart. So much hurt and pain out there.

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

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