Hearthaven Publishing
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Feedburner
  • Twitter
  • Rss
  • Home
  • Books
    • He Did Deliver Me From Bondage
    • Clean Hands, Pure Heart
    • From Heartache to Healing
    • Patterns of Light Vol 1
    • A Voice from the Fire
    • Dear Bishop
    • The Unseen Enemy
  • Audio & Art
    • He Did Deliver Me Audio Book
    • The Sky’s Not the Limit
    • Provo Lecture Series Audio CDs
    • Wonderful, Counselor Art Print
  • Recovery
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and the LDS Community
      • Alcohol and Drugs
      • Codependency
        • Codependent Characteristics
        • Codependency—An Ancient Problem
      • Other Addictions
      • Overeating and Food-Related Addictions
      • Sexual Addiction
        • Do I Have a Sexual Addiction?
    • Twelve Step Support
      • The Origin of the Twelve Steps
      • LDS 12 Steps
      • AA 12 Steps
      • Tools for Recovery
      • 12 Step Community
    • Forums
  • About Us
    • About Hearthaven Publishing
    • Hearthaven History
    • Submissions
    • Link Swap & Buttons
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Bookstore
Search the site...
Home» Christ » There Is No Other Way But The Way of Imperfection (Part 1)

There Is No Other Way But The Way of Imperfection (Part 1)

0

I have found that peace which passeth understanding, which only Christ can give (Philippians 4:7). In Him I have found a perfect brightness of hope that shines through even the deepest darkness. I have sanity and serenity because of His living presence in my life. (He Did Deliver Me From Bondage, p. v.)

I wasn’t lying when I wrote that, but sometimes I’m sorely tempted to think I must have been fooling myself.  I’m afraid the mortal reality is that I can ebb and flow in and out of sanity and serenity in a matter of minutes, if I choose to let go of the Lord’s hand. That’s when Satan, the Liar comes peddling his  idolatries, enticing me to resort to unhealthy eating, overworking, overspending and other weaknesses.

If I find that “peace which passeth understanding,” shouldn’t it last?

I’m coming to realize that the Lord won’t hold me that tight. The yoke He offers me so that I can be blessed with His strength is light, not heavy and binding.  He’ll let me lean on Him if I ask. He’ll even pick me up and carry me if I ask. But the second I want to get down out of His arms and try going it alone He lets me.

I’ve had a hard time getting used to His total willingness to let me come and go as I choose.  Sometimes I wondered and even demanded, “Why doesn’t He try to stop me? Why doesn’t He try to restrain me? Why doesn’t He at least raise His voice and point out to me that I’m leaving the safety of His salvation? Just a simple, ‘Hey, Colleen. Do you really want to wander off and to try to live your life without me again? How did that work for you last time?’”

But He doesn’t. He respects my agency and the opportunity I have in this life to learn by my own experience.  He leaves the coming and the going, the wandering and the repenting up to me.  Meanwhile He’s as unwavering in His love and willingness to be my Savior as the sun is certain to rise each morning.

And so, wander I do. And I do.  And I do.

I’m discovering there is no other way but the way of imperfection—wandering off and then returning to Him.  I am grateful to report, though, that my times of wandering have grown less and less frequent and been of shorter and shorter duration.  It seems my dependency is shifting from my addictions to the Lord and the joy that being close to Him brings into my life.

~Colleen H.

©2012 Hearthaven Publishing. All rights reserved.

agency, idolatry, imperfection, peace, perfectionism, repentance

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe via E-mail

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Grab Our Button!


Click image for details.

LDS 12 Step Sites

  • Heart t' Heart
  • LDS Addiction Recovery (ARP)

Other 12 Step Sites

  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Overeaters Anonymous

Recovery Bloggers

  • LDS 12 Step Reflections

Archives

Dear Blog Visitor:

Due to the many spammers out there, if your listed URL goes to a business site or a locked facebook page, your comment will be deleted as spam. If your leave a legit comment and it does not show up within a few days, please contact us using the link at the bottom right of this page. Sorry for the inconvenience. ~Hearthaven Publishing

From Twitter

  • Could not fetch Twitter RSS feed.

Recent Posts

  • God is Waiting for Us . . .
  • God is Not a Means to an End
  • Working the Steps Is Like Reconstructive Surgery
  • Free Step Friday: I Came Not to Judge the World (Step 6)

Need a Dose of Recovery?

Visit our blog and join the conversation on various aspects of recovery from an LDS perspective. Your comments are welcome!

Get in Touch

  • 1-435-245-3723
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • None
(c) 2012 Hearthaven Publishing
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us