John
Ortberg, a pastor of a large church, asked his friend and mentor, Dallas
Willard, what he needed to do to help his church experience greater levels of
spiritual growth. John was frustrated
because the people of his church were not “changing” in the positive spiritual
ways he was hoping for.
After
John’s question Dallas paused for a long time and said, “You must arrange your
days so that you are experiencing deep contentment, joy, and confidence in your
everyday life with God.”
John’s
response to Dallas’ instruction was: “Huh?”
They
talked about Dallas’ answer and after some conversation back and forth John
said this…
“But
how can I have total contentment, joy, and confidence? … My work isn’t going
nearly well enough. Lots of people are
not happy with me. I am inadequate as a
pastor, husband, and father. Every week
I carry the burden of delivering a sermon and knowing I’ll have to feel the
pain it if doesn’t go well.”
Dallas
then responded like this…
“I didn’t
say you should experience total contentment, joy, and confidence in the
remarkable adequacy of your competence or the amazingly successful
circumstances of your life. It’s total
contentment, joy, and confidence in your everyday experience of God. This alone is what makes a soul healthy.”
John
shares this exchange in his book, “Soul Keeping: Caring For The Most Important
Part of You.” What Dallas told John sounds
like a very simple idea but it is profound.
I encourage you to take a moment to quietly, seriously ponder the truth
of what he said. When I read this story
earlier today it touched, encouraged and challenged my heart in a significant
way.
I want
to find contentment, joy and confidence in God.
I want to find delight in Him, in the midst of all the circumstances of
life. Is that really possible? I believe it is.
I hope,
as you consider these thoughts, God uses them to do something significant for
your heart, too.
Dan Marler
First Church of God
Oak Lawn, IL
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