“Grieving how plans change — is part of the plan to change us.”- Ann Voskamp
“He [Jesus] willingly chose isolation so you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow.”- Joni Eareckson Tada
“But this happened so the works of God might be displayed in him.”- John 9:3
In Chapter 14 (“Breaking the Lies in Your Head”) of The Broken Way, Ann Voskamp begins by offering advice when life perplexes us. She encourages: “Do the next thing. When nothing feels simple, simply to the next thing (emphasis Ann’s).” Furthermore, don’t judge your feelings or let them weigh you down. You feel feelings. Then, you give them to God.
Also, Ann observes, the word emotion comes from the Latin for “movement.” Therefore, she emphasizes, God designed all feelings to move you toward Him. However, feelings of failure multiply like a bad rash. Scratch one failure. Immediately an outbreak spreads all over you.
As a result, you feel tempted to choke out your surrender to becoming cruciform. You’d rather break free and run. But, you only run into meaninglessness- which only hurts and breaks you more. Ann describes the only way to truly break free:
“Maybe the only way to begin breaking free is to lay open your willing hands and bear witness to the ugly mess of your scars. To trace them slowly and re-member what He says about you, even if you forget. . . . bravely letting [your] darkness be a canvas for God’s light.”
In conclusion, Ann exhorts us to never fear broken things, for Christ redeems everything.
Today’s question: What Scriptures strengthen you during grieving how plans change? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Grounded transparently in God”
