English Standard Version
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1
On my way to Florida, I listened to Jennie Allen’s podcast interview with Christine Caine called “What makes you want to quit?” Both women have experienced tough personal and ministry seasons in the past 5 years. Christine shared that she realized that she needed to affirm the “markers” in her life that keep her from drifting in order to run her race to the end with faithfulness. Pressing on. Finishing the course set out for her. Jennie mentioned that when she and a group of women leaders discussed what would “take them out”, the answers were discouragement, fatigue, and a craving for comfort.
On the way home I listened to two of Elisabeth Elliot’s podcasts, rebroadcasts of talks of hers from many years ago, on having a steadfast heart. Elisabeth mentioned Hebrews 2:1 just like I had heard in the interview with Christine Caine. When I hear themes in multiple places, I know to lean in. This is usually a signal that God wants to speak something to me that I need to listen to. Elisabeth spoke of tenacity, stick-to-it-iveness, endurance. Taking up our crosses and following Christ. Daily.
Both of these women warned of the ways our culture, suffering, and fatigue can cause us to drift. To drift is to do nothing. To allow yourself to float away from convictions, practices, and truth that hold you fast to Christ, the anchor of our souls. Confusion, apathy, cynicism, and relativism creep their way in. We begin to set up our lives in ways that are self-serving. We don’t believe that our choices matter or have influence or bear fruit. How easy in middle-age to allow the drift!
This is why we need these mentors and guides in our lives to warn us, admonish us, and encourage us to keep running. Eyes straight ahead on Jesus who is waiting for us at the finish line. He has prepared good works for us to do, and we are to walk in them. Are we simply believers or actual followers? Does our faith translate into action? Are we rooted and grounded in His words, a heart saturated and soaked in living Truth that will daily transform us? Do I pray and ask God for His will for my day and not my own? Surrender leads to movement.
God uses the summer to recalibrate my heart. Every year it seems that He uses the month of June to gently press on areas of my life that need attention, repentance, or a realignment. I realize how I easily drift into wanting to create my own kingdom instead of walking in His. In suffering and frustrations, I take both hands to grab on to comfort. I want to appease it instead of walk through it. 2021 has been challenging for me, an almost daily train of hard, maddening, and draining experiences. I need to be filled with God’s perspective and the Spirit’s strength when my weak flesh wants to give up and lie down in a false sense of peace. I need endurance, tenacity, the encouragement of the saints to press on, run steady, not give up.
I got back home last night around 6 pm and slept better than I have in a month. Tonight my boys swim in their first meet. I must go prepare some pasta salad and pick up my son from work! I hope you are finding your summer rhythm and that your heart is finding its own recalibration. Much love.
Aimee
I needed to read this. I will re-read and ponder, as well as listen to Elisabeth Elliot's podcasts. Thank you for sharing!