Losing Control

Steve Stewart's picture

Recently I re-read Eager to Love, Richard Rohr’s remarkable book about Francis of Assisi. From my earliest days of following Jesus, I have been fascinated, moved and challenged by the life of Francis. This book is filled with much to ponder.

“It takes great inner freedom to be a follower of Jesus. His life is an option, a choice, a call, a vocation, and we are totally free to say yes or not or maybe. You do not have to do this to make God love you. That is already taken care of. You do it to love God back and to love what God loves and how God loves!” (p.23)

The great invitation of the Gospel is surely, “Follow Me.” It is not a one-time choice or call; rather, this is an ongoing, often day-by-day decision that we make (or not) throughout the seasons of life. It is an invitation filled with the promise of abundant life––the life of our secret dreams, and the life of Jesus’ great intention for us. So why is it hard to commit to this following that Richard Rohr writes about?

I suspect the reason is that this call to follow Jesus is so counter-intuitive. He doesn’t so much lead us into places of comfort and confidence, as lead us directly into our weaknesses, our fears––the shadows of life. Following Jesus really does mean losing the lives we have (and protect and cherish) in exchange for the promise of a different kind of life with a different orientation and compass point. Rohr defines suffering in a unique way: whenever we are not in control. The loss of control over our lives may be the most fundamental fear of all.

I think back to seasons when life was so obviously out of control: a season of unemployment when I had a young family; the terrifying time when my young son was in the hospital with a mysterious illness; times of being misunderstood; times of watching a dream disintegrate. For all of us, these are the stuff of life, the things that provoke primal fear and pain. But they are also opportunities for me to choose the way down, the way of smallness, the way of Jesus. After all, in going to the cross, Jesus chose to suffer––to not be in control––as an act of solidarity with all of the pain of the world.

To embrace what is broken, weak and out of control in my life, rather than to either deny it or fight against it is an act of faith. Faith in resurrection life, not just after I die, but resurrection life in this life. Life free of self-protection, free of the “upward pull”. Life free to embrace others in their suffering, to love what God loves.

I don’t have to go on this journey in order to make God love me or be happy with me. The wonder of grace is that He is always for me and He is always with me. Rather, I go on this journey––stumbling, inconsistent and often fearful––because the One who loves me invites me to follow Him into life with Him and in Him. Resurrection life now.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross”   (Heb 12:2)

Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 381 - 390 of 487

Pages

Through the Bible eBook

Through the Bible eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 142 Pages

Listening to God through Scripture! Were not our hearts burning within us while He was ... explaining the Scriptures to us (Lk. 24:32)?  This book will guide you in letting God reveal truth to you as you meditate on the stories and teaching of those who have gone before you. Your heart will be set afire by God!

Price: $19.95
Transformed by His Spirit

Transformed by His Spirit

eBook by Rob Bruce

Worthless or priceless? Your image of yourself directly impacts God's destiny for your life. Experience God's rest by smashing your religious and distorted mirrors and replacing them with God's mirror of grace.

Price: $9.95

Twenty Key Biblical Principles for Management eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 111 Pages

Does the Bible contain principles which should be followed if you are managing a business, a church or a home? Do the most successful businesses, churches and homes follow these principles? The answer to both questions is, "Yes!" Do you know what these key principles are for successful management? If not, this book is for you. The book is designed with quick, easy evaluation worksheets provided for each of the 20 principles.

Price: $12.95

Vibrant Health eBook

Click here for Kindle version. At age 40 I took full responsibility for my health, and I have not needed an appointment with an MD for the last 22 years. I focused full time on health from ages 40-42, and 60-62, and part time during the intervening years. My health is better at age 62 than it was at age 30. Yours can be too!

Price: $9.95
Wading Deeper Into the River of God eBook

Wading Deeper Into the River of God eBook

by Mark Virkler | 212 Pages

This book is the story of Mark’s personal journey toward revelation knowledge. With his trademark transparency and humor, you’ll identify with his challenges along the way and rejoice in his breakthroughs as he endeavors to continually wade deeper into the river of God.

Price: $16.95

When Everything Changes eBook

by Steve Stewart | 242 Pages

Jesus Christ declared a Gospel that is radical in its scope and implications, and powerful enough to bring change to everything it touches. When Everything Changes enlarges our worldview, inviting and challenging us to become active, passionate participants in God's Greater Story of rescue and restoration. As we learn to recognize and move in the rhythm of God's Kingdom, we step into a place of exciting new possibilities where healing, justice and mercy move through us to transform entire communities.

Price: $9.95
When Heaven Touches Earth - Front Cover

When Heaven Touches Earth eBook

by Greig, Virkler, Rogers, Goll, Fuller | 140 Pages

The central theme of this book is that average Christian believers can learn to exercise the eyes of their hearts and receive Spirit-led visions to worship in heaven, to receive the Lord's healing of their hearts, His authority, and His strategies to bring heaven down to earth (Matt. 6:10). Heavenly encounters initiated and led by Jesus with angels and those who have gone before us may sometimes be a part of these visionary experiences, as they were in Scripture.

Price: $14.95

Words of Life: From the Father's Heart of Love eBook

by Graham J. Marriott | 115 pages

This is a book of two-way journaling accompanied by color pictures on nearly every page. You will be blessed and inspired as you read! You receive this ebook in three formats: Kindle, PDF, as well as an EPUB version. This will ensure you can read it on all of your devices.

Price: $5.75

Your Extraordinary Life PDF eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 197 Pages

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Price: $10.95
Ethical Network Marketing eBook

Ethical Network Marketing eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 62 Pages

Direct selling, or network marketing, has been taking an ever larger niche of the business market in recent years. Network marketing allows the individual to begin a home-based business with just a few hundred dollars, and then nurture its expansion across the nation, or even the world. The network marketing business of a skilled communicator and promoter can grow very large. This book provides you with keys for building such a successful business.

Price: $9.95

Pages