The words of my book club read bring me to a complete stop.
The spiritualities that hold up across an entire lifetime of an individual — providing meaning-making in not one season of life but in many — are those that allow suffering, those that let go of control, and those that surrender to the unseen work of God in our lives.
Letting Go, Finding You by Hunter Mobley
My dear friend and I have this new saying in light of life’s current circumstances. We call it the “terrible truth.” It’s a reminder that we have no way of completely understanding how suffering and letting go can be for our good. It just doesn’t feel “right” or comfortable or happy. It’s rather terrible. But that doesn’t change the truth, nor does it define God’s goodness. The reality is freedom, transformation, and deeper faith often come with the high cost of pain, loss, and suffering.
We see it throughout scripture.
The Israelites freedom came through terrible plagues.
Gideon let go of thousands to face the enemy with no physical advantage.
David hid out in caves and lost his dearest friend.
Job lost every single thing.
So did Jesus.
Ouch…
These are not words I really wanted to read right now. Because I am in a season of letting go, and in all honestly I hoped for a fluffy, happy, feel good book. Not the “terrible truth”… again. Not words that remind me this is God’s work, God’s timing, God’s unraveling, God’s plan and purpose… not mine. I certainly didn’t want to consider the fact that there is not one thing I can do about it except submit. Submit to the work God is doing, and trust it is all for good. It’s a hard pill to swallow.
The first chapter’s final sentence brings encouragement, sort of.
A work that invites us to attend and intend.
—Hunter Mobley
Looking deeper brings an answer to what it looks like to submit to God’s work, especially the hard work. In the midst of letting go, God invites me to pay attention, to be present (attend), and to direct my mind, to take one step (intend). It’s an invitation to stretch beyond the place and person I am today. An invitation to be transformed from the inside out.
Maybe this is God’s work in all of us. The only work that will last beyond this lifetime and into the next. You’re invited to join me if you dare. To attend (pay attention) and intend (direct your mind) to the things God is doing in you… in others… in the whole wide world.
Are you feeling in need of rescue? Click on the link below where you listen to podcasts and join Stacy as she prays through Psalm 3.
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