If you happen to know me outside this blog and you’ve talked to me at all in the past couple weeks, you’ve probably already heard me gush about Jonathan Merritt’s new book, Jesus is Better than You Imagined. It is hands-down one of my favorite non-fiction reads ever and I can’t stop talking about it.
I’ve appreciated Merritt’s writing for some time now—I so respect his even-keeled and insightful way of looking at faith, culture and especially sensitive current issues in his articles. But this was the first book of his I’ve read.
And while my gushing probably would’ve hit all-time highs regardless of when I read this, I think it particularly resonated with me now because, well [confession alert] I’ve been in a bit of a spiritually blah season.
Is that bad to admit right around Easter?
But there it is. And I’m guessing anyone who has walked the faith road for any number of years hits those dusty patches where everything feels a little beige and dry.
I’ve felt the same blah-ness creatively recently. The two tend to go hand-in-hand for me. And I’m generally of the mindset that it’s best to just push on through those days or weeks. Feelings fluctuate after all, so who wants to hand all control over to them? But when those seasons stretch—sorta like a winter that just won’t die (which is every winter in the Midwest)—it can get a little disconcerting.
It’s probably why when I heard Needtobreathe’s “Wasteland” for the first time two weeks ago, I almost cried. There’s one line in particular that brought tears to my eyes:
In this wasteland where I’m livin’ there is a crack in the door filled with light, and it’s all that I need to get by.
I should note that I realize my life looks nothing like a wasteland. I have a wonderful life filled with wonderful people and opportunities. And I know even having the mental space to think about one’s spiritual or creative state of being would probably sound ridiculous—moreover, luxurious—to people in poverty-stricken situations or devastated by war or facing personal tragedy.
But when I listened to that song, “wasteland” felt like the perfect descriptor for my spiritual and creative life. I felt wrung out. And I needed a crack in the door filled with light.
Jesus is Better than You Imagined—well, it didn’t just push that door open a crack. More like it flung the door off its hinges. I love it so, so much. So much so that I’ve already begun re-reading it. It’s stirring and honest. No, it doesn’t avoid hard places nor does it sugar coat the frustrations or letdowns or doubts that tangle our faith journeys. But Merritt has such a hopeful and heart-absorbing approach to talking about those things.
Plus, he’s just a fantastic storyteller. There’s a vulnerability and sincerity that reels you in chapter after chapter without fail.
There’s one quote in particular I can’t get out of my head:
The Bible’s God doesn’t settle in a single place waiting for us to show up, but one who scatters his presence in every nook and cranny like wedding rice.
Reading that gave me goosebumps.
You know, so often when I hit those spiritually or creatively stale times, I tend to blame my busy schedule and responsibilities and to-dos. (Which is ridiculous because so many of the things filling my life are incredible blessings. The responsibilities come as a result of dreams coming true. I can’t believe I ever complain!) And I often think to myself, if I could just clear off my schedule and find some time to slow down and be more diligent about nurturing my faith and creativity, then I could get to where I need to be with God…as if God is waiting for me in some ideal future where both my calendar and conscience are clear.
But no…He is present here. In the busyness. In the responsibilities. In the nooks and crannies of everyday life.
I love the wedding rice imagery too. I found myself thinking about what a church janitor’s reaction might be to wedding rice thrown all over a church lawn. Maybe he doesn’t even see it because of his other responsibilities. Maybe he sees it and gets annoyed. Another task to accomplish.
Or maybe he sees it and thinks about the love that started it all…love that culminated in a beautiful event and rice on the lawn.*
I want to be the person who sees the wedding rice and remembers why it’s there…who recognizes God’s presence in the nooks and crannies of life…and who understands that presence is a result of a love so far-reaching that not even a busy writer’s wandering into wasteland territory can escape it.
*****
Have YOU read any stirring books lately? Do you ever feel spiritually or creatively wrung out?
Also, Happy Easter! I won’t be around here on Monday or Wednesday of next week BUT coming up next Friday, April 25, I’ve got some super fun guests and a super fun giveaway. See you then!
*I guess the analogy breaks down a little there, though, because don’t people say birds can explode from wedding rice? May just be hearsay, but if it’s true, unless you’ve had a Tippi Hedren-type experience and hate birds, well it’s kind of morbid and sad. So let’s hope the janitor found a way to clean up the rice…
Comments 20
I love this. I hadn’t heard that song, or known that author, but will look for both now as your quotes resonate. Thanks. Nor had I heard about full birds popping from rice, but I do know of a squirrel discovering rising bread dough and popping when he/she ate too much. Excruciating.
Have a blessed Easter and great week!
Author
Ohhh poor squirrel! 🙁
Hope you get a chance to check out the book for sure, Dee. It’s so good. I’m re-reading chapters tonight before going to bed. I have a feeling this is one I will read and re-read tons.
Fabulous post, Melissa. I’m going to go find the song – and the book. Thank you for your honesty – it’s a great ray of light in MY life!! Happy Easter!
Author
Thanks, Susie! Hope you love the song and the book. There was actually a spot in the book that reminded me of a conversation our MBT team had in Savannah last year…I think we were talking about prayer and needing space to hear from God.
Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
Guess this book will have to go on my reading list, then! I know what you mean–about blah-ness, about spiritual dryness and creative dryness going hand in hand. I’ve been there for awhile, too, but am starting to see that door open wider lately and recognize all the wedding rice around me. (Love all the images in this post!)
Author
Yay I’m glad the door is opening wider and you’re seeing the “wedding rice.” 🙂 I’m also glad I’m not alone in experiencing those blah times–not that I wish them on other people. But it can get easy sometimes, I think, during spiritually dry seasons that we’re the only one or that it’s abnormal or something…when the truth is, all of us hit those low points. Always comforting to know others have walked the same road and turned the corner. 🙂
Yes, yes I do get those dusty places:) And I agree, I’ve learned to keep pressing forward and into God because giving into my feelings (though at times, I do) doesn’t help a thing!
You’ve completely made me want to purchase this book! I’ve been on the hunt for a new devo type of book, and I do believe I just found it!
Author
YES on giving into your feelings not helping a thing. Good to acknowledge them and not let them fester…but not good to let them control us.
SUCH a good book, so I hope you do get a chance to read it. I read it in three days–would’ve been just one day if I didn’t have to do the whole day job thing. But now I’m reading it again…man, I love it!
Wow, Melissa, you’ve got me searching for the book already. Some of my favorite books lately are by Mark Batterson. Read his books, Primal and Soul Print to lift you up!
Author
I’ve heard that Mark Batterson is a wonderful author. In fact, just recently someone recommended one of his books to me…I’ll have to check them out! Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi Melissa,
I hadn’t heard of this book before. I’ll have to look for it.
Last year I read Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. It’s a great book about our relationship with Jesus.
Happy Easter!
Author
Oh yeah, somebody I used to work with recommended that one to me. So I’ll definitely have to add it to the TBR list! Thanks for the recommendation. Happy Easter to you, too!
Oh, Melissa, I wish I knew you were struggling! I’m totally adding you to my prayer list. I mean, you’re already on there, but I’m adding another layer. 🙂
The past year has seemed like a wasteland of sorts for me, spiritually, as well. Like you, blessings abound, making me wonder how I can possibly consider myself wanting of anything. Yet there I sit, wishing my future was here, wishing I heard God better, wishing I was more dedicated in my faith life.
Music often helps me during these moments, and this time was no different. Though many CDs have lifted my spirits lately, one in particular stands out. One song jumps out at me from that CD. Here’s the link to the youtube video of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOJU3X5iRoo
It’s “Faith Is Not a Feeling” by Josh Wilson. He’s so right, too. Faith isn’t a feeling, but an action I take. I CHOOSE to believe, to have faith, even in the darkest moments when God is silent (or my spiritual ears aren’t turned on). That little fact has helped me this week to CHOOSE to read my Bible before even getting ready for the day. It might be one verse, one chapter, or five chapters. Any amount is helpful in bridging that gap between me and God. Any amount puts me in God’s presence and brings me to my knees.
A verse that’s stood out this week (and I’ve reread it every day since!) is Jeremiah 17:7-8. Here it is in the NIV.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
That’s really encouraged me so much this week, and I pray it does the same for you. Two other verses in that chapter that have uplifted my spirits and given me peace are 12 and 14.
God’s grace is so sufficient, it knocks me to my knees and makes me cry tears of shame and joy. I don’t know how many times I’ve thanked him for his patience with me. Similarly, I don’t know how many times I’ve asked him to help me, to teach me, to keep changing me (another great song is “Keep Changing Me”, although I can’t think of who sings it). Anyway, God is still God, and God is still good. A friend of mine told me that earlier in the year, and it’s really helped me pinpoint my focus on God with more clarity.
Blessings to you, Melissa! I’ll be praying for ya!
Andrea
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
Author
Thank you for the prayers, Andrea. You are a huge blessing to me. Hope we get a chance to meet in person someday so I can give you a hug!
I love those verses in Jeremiah. I love how they talk about trust…more and more, I’m realizing how much of life and faith is truly all about trust. Trusting God and his faithfulness and his love and his timing. Trusting him when I can’t see what’s going on behind the scenes.
I was just chatting with my mom on the phone about an hour ago, too, and one of the things she reiterated to me is that God is good. He is SO good. Exactly what your friend said. And it’s easy to say that and believe that when everything is perfect. But when we’re in those dry, dusty patches–or even worse, having a sinking sand sort of experience–it can be harder to believe. But it’s true.
Thanks for your inspiring and uplifting words. I’ll be praying for you, too. 🙂
Melissa,
Praying for you has helped me too. It’s given me a new perspective on my own struggles. That’s probably because it seems we’re traveling in the same boat these days. 🙂
I’m looking forward to that hug. And I loved your note in the end of Here to Stay on how you’ve practiced that. Made me laugh and want one of your hugs even more. One of these days… And if you’re ever in north Texas, message me.
Those verses in Jeremiah are so sweet, aren’t they? They’re in the middle of a chapter that is talking about how the people will be cursed for turning away from God. Those few verses are blessings to those who decided to stick it out and trust our Lord. I’m so glad they’re still valid for us today. Trusting God isn’t always easy, but it’s always a blessing in the end.
Yes, God is good. I’ve made a point lately to thank God in the middle of the mess of life. When I don’t see the way out of whatever, when I’m in physical pain, when I can’t see the path I’m to be on… I stop and thank God for that moment. Pain, doubt, everything. I thank Him for it. He will use it for my good, to teach me something I need to know. By thanking Him in my darkest times, He uplifts my spirits. I may still have to go through the hard time, but my heart feels lighter and my strength holds out a bit more. Yes, God is definitely good.
Thanks for your prayers. Best wishes for everything! I know right now is tough, but God will see you through this valley. When you get to that mountaintop, smile and praise God and enjoy that moment. The memory of that time will help get you through the next valley.
Blessings and hugs!
Author
Yep, it’s always so good to be in the same boat as others. For sure! Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers…sending them back at you as well. 🙂
I so appreciate your transparency in sharing your experiences and this book. I’ve found myself in a similar place recently, and especially this morning, then reading back in my journal this morning, I realized that I was in this same place the last time I finished a big project and needed to contemplate what stories I’d propose next. It was encouraging to realize that in those ensuing 25 months, God has walked me through writing five books! Some were a little torturous and some flowed amazingly, but God met me when and where I needed him, which fills me with hope that He always will. Writing is an emotionally draining business. But I can honestly say that I’m grateful for these times that show me very clearly that apart from Him, I could not do it.
Author
“God met me when and where I needed him, which fills me with hope that He always will.”
And I so agree that writing is an emotionally draining business. I’m pretty sure my mom, who um, listened to me when I was NOT at my best earlier this week, would quite agree. 🙂
Hi Melissa, I haven’t heard of this author before but see that John Ortberg indorses it. I recently read his book ‘Love Beyond Reason’, and it was very good. I also just read and wrote about a book called ‘Living Water’ by Brother Yun which was amazing. Extremely encouraging! You may enjoy it.
On a side note: I won your book recently and can’t wait to start it soon! It’s next on my fiction list. : )
God bless
Author
Haven’t read Love Beyond Reason or Living Water, but they both sound really good. I’ll have to check them out.
Yay for winning my book. Hope you enjoy it!