Bonnie Gray
  • Stories
  • Meet Bonnie
  • Speaking
  • Books
    • Whispers of Rest Book
    • Finding Spiritual Whitespace
  • Free Resources
    • Coffee Break For Your Soul Podcast
    • Free Goodies
    • Book Club
    • Fave Reads
    • Top Posts
  • Ask Bonnie

3 Unexpected Ways God Makes Us Known (Day 9) 21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace

By Bonnie Gray • June 18, 2014 • One Comment

I didn’t want to be known for my anxiety. Or my stress.

And I certainly didn’t want to be known for my brokenness.

But, at the cusp of a lifelong dream coming true – writing my first book – I was launched into a debilitating season of panic attacks, insomnia and anxiety.

Writing triggered memories to come alive. I began reliving them. Unexpected, painful memories.

I’ve done much harder things in my life, free of panic attacks. I grew up the oldest in a single parent family, put myself through college and launched ministries and communities of faith, while working on technology in the high-tech world. I’ve even traveled halfway around the world as an overseas missionary.

But, overwhelmed by anxiety and stress, I was no longer able to cope the ways I always have: by problem solving, taking care of others, planning and doing.

God was allowing my exhausted, weary self to surface, so I could make God known in 3 unexpected ways.

1) Make God Known By Presence, Not Project

When we come into contact with stress, our natural response is to push through. We don’t want to be in need or fail to meet others’ expectations, especially our own. We beat ourselves up for not trusting God.

But, God offers us a different response. 

Rest. Kindness. Comfort.

Instead of being harder on us, Jesus whispers –

“Come to me, all those who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

We often hold ourselves back from God, when we’re most weary.  Ironically, those are the times we need God’s comforting presence the most.

When we make space to confide in God, we can offer that space in return to others — instead of trying to fix them or their problems.

We give them what God offers us: space to be real and rest.

We stop making ministry project focused. We become ministry by making God known by our presence.

2)  Make God Known By Nurturing Your Heart Rather Ignoring It…

to be continued…

 

Read The Rest of 3 Unexpected Ways God Makes Us Known

Screen Shot 2014-06-17 at 10.43.56 PMTo  read the rest of “3 Unexpected Ways God Makes Us Known” — click here to visit with me at Catalyst: a Community for Change Makers. 

Catalyst is an annual conference for leaders in the Christian ministry.  This year’s spring theme is Known, while their theme for fall is Change.

I thought the sequence was interesting, because we often want to change things in our lives without first being vulnerable to be known.  

Somehow doing has become more important than being.  But, who we are is more important than what we can do.

Because if we’re separated from our hearts, then we are missing out on what Jesus wants most:  a relationship – a living journey with us – that we can share with others.  

So, when Catalyst invited me to share some encouragement for leaders during our 21 Days of Rest Book Launch Tour, I went straight to writing about being known. 

Please come keep me company at Catalyst.  Pull up a chair. Click to read & comment over at my post on Catalyst. I’d love hearing your voice there.

Take The Journey of Rest With Me

Bonnie_SpiritualWhitespaceBookTake the Finding Spiritual Whitespace journey to make space to rest, despite whatever chaos and stress clutters our everyday lives.

This is a soul’s guidebook to rest for you. I’ve created journaling questions  (for you or intimate small groups) so you can take the journey of self-discovery with Jesus. Let’s live a better story of rest. Together.

Purchase a copy of my memoir-driven guidebook for yourself and your friends.  Because rest isn’t a journey we need to take alone.  We need each other.

Because some stories can’t be told on a blog.  They are so intimate, they can only echo in the sacred space of the printed page. Letters from my heart bound together for you.

Let’s be kindreds. Let’s meet between the pages of Finding Spiritual Whitespace.

 

Read about Whitespace from Authors You Love
{click on the endorsements below to visit my friends and read about their Whitespace}

Screen Shot 2014-06-03 at 4.24.04 AM

 

“Why I’m Breaking Up With My Quiet Time” by Lysa TerKeurst

Screen Shot 2014-06-03 at 4.10.03 AM

“Help when Your Life Feels Too Busy” by Holley Gerth

Screen Shot 2014-06-03 at 4.10.35 AM

“Finding Spiritual Whitespace” by Tsh Oxenreider

Screen Shot 2014-06-03 at 4.10.24 AM

Today’s post is Day 9 of my special Book Launch Blog Tour Series — {21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace}.  Click here to read Day 1 and the entire series on rest.

Our special June Whitespace Thursday Linkup Badge

21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace

 

Share With Others

Share Your Voice

Pull up a Chair

This is a quiet space for you and me. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Click to comment »

1 Comment

Get Faith Shots

Get each post served up hot and fresh in your mailbox.

[newsletter_signup_form id=0]

5 Ways To Pray When You're Too Stressed To Know How (Day 8) 21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace
Whisper a Love Note: Quiet Words & A Giveaway (Day 10) 21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace

Connect with Me

Bonnie Gray

Welcome to Faith Barista – a blog that serves up shots of faith for everyday life. Posts brewed hot & fresh. Hang out. Swap some stories.

You Might Also Like

  • 4 Ways To Spark Joy as an Introvert at Heart

  • Why It’s Time to Set Our Hearts Free Even If We Want to Run Away (FREE PRINTABLE)

  • Four Movements To Be Yourself and Be At Rest

  • Each of us is created with beauty in mind, to reflect God's artistic imprint.

    Why It’s Good to Waste Some Time To Feed Your Soul

1 Comment

  • Reply Day 9: Finding Spiritual Whitespace | Fuller Way of Life June 18, 2014 at 9:22 am

    […] words are from Bonnie Gray’s Day 9 blog post (part of her 21 Days of Rest blog tour). You can find so many more words of encouragement and […]

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG

Sign up to refresh your soul with God’s love and rest. I’ll send you encouragement to nurture your heart and wellbeing. I’ll cheer you on!

SUBSCRIBE NOW»

Pull up a chair. Refresh your soul. Be inspired with soul care, stories & encouragement here. Breathe. This is a quiet space to swap some stories. Share your journey. Be the beloved. Be you. Serving up shots of faith for everyday life.
Bonnie Gray

Whispers of Rest

““If the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field,
Whispers of Rest is a map to that peace uninhibited.”

– RELEVANT Magazine
“

Order Now »

Whispers of Rest Book Trailer

Where I Barista

Hangout On Instagram

Instagram did not return a 200.

Follow Me

Archives

Compassion Blogger

Compassion Blogger

Sometimes it takes more faith for us to enter into a child's story than simply praying that it changes. Experience these stories unscripted.

Read the stories»

Faith Barista Kindreds

You make this place real! This is our cafe “corkboard” of Faith Barista Kindreds. Add a photo of you to our community. 🙂 Enter your blog & choose your thumbnail.

An InLinkz Link-up


Facebook Twitter Google Plus Instagram RSS Pinterest
Bonnie Gray

Contact

© 2018 Bonnie Gray. All rights reserved. Website by Contemplate Design | Privacy Policy
Bonnie Gray
  • Stories
  • Meet Bonnie
  • Speaking
  • Books
  • Free Resources
  • Ask Bonnie