Adventures in the Kingdom

Have you ever lost something that felt like everything? I don’t ask that casually. For some of you, the question immediately brings faces and memories to mind. A marriage. A child. A dream. A home. A career. A future you were certain God had promised. For me, it happened twenty years ago, and the experience shaped my life. At the time, I lived in Southern California. I had a home I loved, a young son, and a life that looked good from the outside. Behind the scenes, however, everything was unraveling. My husband and I were going through bankruptcy. The house was headed toward foreclosure. Our marriage was ending. I…

Two days ago, I was hit with a monster anxiety attack. I have generalized anxiety disorder, and I normally manage it just fine with an SSRI. But my prescription unexpectedly ran out before I could get in to see my provider. I needed to see him fast, because I was already experiencing withdrawal symptoms: extreme irritability, restlessness, unable to concentrate—really great habits for a contemplative spiritual director! And even if I got my refill within a week, the med would be out of my system, and I’d have to start over again—6 weeks of taking it before it started to work. I was NOT happy about this. On top of…

You really need to know God’s will, so you ask Him what to do. You ask Him in faith and trust… and nothing happens.No answer, no clarity, no sense of direction. Just silence—and the growing anxiety that maybe you’re missing God somehow. In order to listen to someone, you have to be what? To be quiet, so you can pay attention to them. It’s no different with God: He speaks in the Word and in prayer and through other people. But how often do you just get quiet enough to really listen? Seeking clarity is a giant case study for listening. When you have a Kingdom calling to a business…