Cease Striving
“Cease striving and know that I am God.”
The most beautiful thing I learned from Nathan was the importance of peace. It’s all he wants in life — now, it’s all I want.
Throughout Scripture God tells his people to trust in Him, to find peace, to fear not, to worry not, to stop crying, to love the LORD — He never tells them to freak out or make plans. God laughs at plans. When have I ever been able to predict even how tomorrow will end up?
The coolest things that have happened to me in the past four years have been without my striving. Yes, they’ve taken effort, but never striving. Consider this:
I didn’t fret about getting at job with The Sojourn. Everything came by chance. I had an opportunity to write for it first semester, then the next semester I took a class and eventually got hired on as a staff writer. The rest of my positions have been natural transitions. I’ve worked at my job. I’ve tried to get better at my skill (and I believe I have), but I never set out to accomplish great feats or anything. I just did my work well, and let that take me to the next step.
I didn’t strive to get an internship with the Indianapolis Monthly either. I just heard about it, applied, and interviewed.When I called my roommate to tell her I got it, she said, “You kind of backed up into this, didn’t you?” I did. It just happened. Yes, I had to work to get the thing. (I had the experience; I had to actually apply for the internship.) But I didn’t fret about it, and I didn’t strive.
I could tell a million more stories like these. It’s like that line in Jayber Crow: “I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led.” I feel more as though I’ve been led to The Sojourn, to the IM, to the Seattle School, even to my relationship with Nathan and to other friendships.
It’s beautiful, I believe. I’m happier this way, than I would be if I slaved over the application or something like that.
(Plus, it means I’m not disappointed, because I have less invested.)
More on this subject later, believe me.
Happy Day 14.
November 23, 2011