“There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go. At the precise point where we refuse, growth stops. If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul. It is easy to make a mistake here, “If God gave it to me,” we say, “it’s mine. I can do what I want with it.” No. The truth is that it is ours to thank Him for and ours to offer back to Him, ours to relinquish, ours to lose, ours to let go of – if we want to find our true selves, if we want real life, if our hearts are set on glory.” Elisabeth Elliot
One of the things I’ve noticed about my heart on the Race so far is its fullness. Instead of my bed, I have a sleeping bag and mat. Instead of my car, I have my feet and (lots of) buses. Instead of my purse and favorite boots, I have a backpack and dirty Chacos. Instead of my apartment, I have a church sanctuary that I share with my team. Life is different now. And it is a really, really good different. My soul is at rest. I am content. And full of joy.
Elisabeth Elliot, who knew loss well, wrote, “If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul.”
Job, who also knew loss well, lived this truth perhaps better than anyone else in Scripture, with the clear exception of Jesus Himself. After grieving and wrestling with his new reality, Job said to the Lord in Chapter 42: “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”
Things too wonderful for me to know.
Jesus later said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)
Will find it. Life. Will find life.
Growth of the soul, things too wonderful for me to know, LIFE.
I’m not claiming to understand loss. I haven’t experienced significant loss. But I know this: holding onto things loosely leads to a beautiful fullness that I can’t explain.
I know that traveling around Costa Rica, building relationships with the beautiful people in our neighborhood, Rio Azul, dancing with little ones with giant brown eyes, sleeping on the floor, walking up enormous hills, basking in God’s stunning creation, serving alongside believers who have given up their comforts in the States to love on people halfway around the world – I KNOW that these things bring life. I’m experiencing that life right now. And it’s good.
I am acutely aware that I wouldn’t be here, experiencing all of this, without many of you who have given generously and prayed fervently, so again, thank you. I am so grateful for your partnership in the Gospel!
I would also be remiss if I didn’t share a couple of opportunities with you. Our ministry hosts this month, David and Angie Ziel, are truly wonderful people doing important and life-giving ministry in Rio Azul. Serving alongside them, watching them do the very un-glamorous tasks of taking out the trash, walking up rocky paths after dark with (delicious) corn pancakes to lead home Bible studies, mopping floors, plastering and painting walls, and then marveling at the relationships they’ve built, the way the locals love them, and their love for the Lord has given me deep respect and admiration for them. They’re honestly so great. If you want to learn more about their ministry and our partnership with them this month, please visit their website: https://zielsinla.wordpress.com/get-involved/.
We also had the opportunity earlier this week to go across town to La Carpio, another neighborhood just outside San Jose. Our ministry contact there was Seth Sears. Although we only spent a few short days there, I was so moved by Seth’s heart for La Carpio. He and his family have invested their lives in the neighborhood and are doing amazing ministry. Their website is: http://www.give-dignity.org/about.html.
As a Midwesterner, I’m also pretty thrilled that the Ziels and the Sears are from the Midwest, but that’s neither here nor there haha. (Three cheers for the Midwest!) 🙂
If you were planning to support me this month, please consider rerouting your gift to the Ziels or the Sears. They’ll be here in Costa Rica building the kingdom long after we leave.
Thanks again, friends.
With joy + love,
E
