The Great Readjustment

"The great readjustment that I believe is being made in me is that the reason we were born into this fallen world and entrusted with earthly life is for us to learn to abandon ourselves to a loving God who imagines and creates only the highest possible goodness." - Hannah Hurnard, Hinds' Feet on High Places

A dear friend recommended this book to me and it's been quite transformative. The book is about a young girl called Much-Afraid who journeys with the Good Shepherd through trials and battles to be changed into her new name: Grace-and-Glory. It's a simple book, but so meaningful because throughout the young girl's journey, she falters and mistrusts the Shepherd. Even though He comes through, rescues and at times shields her from danger (not all the time though), she carries much fear. And when she does face danger, she is quick to fall into bitterness, wondering why God has forsaken her. Only later when she reaches the "high places" does she realize that every danger or battle she faced, only prepared her for freedom and joy at her destination. In fact, without it, she wouldn't totally belong to the Shepherd and His lands. She wouldn't have Shalom.

As companions on her journey, the Shepherd gives her two strong helpers, but with odd names: Sorrow and Suffering. She journeys with Sorrow and Suffering throughout her journey, leaning on them in hard times, pressing into them when her fears overwhelmed her.

This was both a surprising and refreshing part of the book because it re-framed suffering and sorrow for me. As Christians or just as humans, we see suffering and sorrow as supremely negative things, things to be avoided at all costs. But here, they are companions, they push the young girl closer to the Shepherd, creating in her a holy desperation. They were very much part of her readjustment.

Readjustment. 

I like this word becomes it perhaps means that we were once adjusted. That when born into this world, although, imperfect, we are born adjusted, fully in God's presence, fully knowing His goodness. As children, we are more easily acquainted with the goodness of God. In some ways, we know nothing else at first.

But as life continues, we become distant perhaps. The storms of life cause us to question God. We lose this adjustment.

So, I believe, most of our lives are spent, readjusting to our baseline, our norm, our oneness with God. Shalom.

I'm still very much in process of readjusting.

I'm so much like the young girl in the story. I struggle with so many fears and am quick to blame God or mistrust Him. I struggle to hold on to the truth: that in all circumstances He is good.

But in this season, I'm closer to this truth, this shalom than I've ever been before. I'm emerging out of that steep climb to soft ground, resting at the feet of my Savior in peaceful assurance that He can and will and is working all things out for our Good. Not our good (small g), but His Good (capital g).

N., how lovely that when you enter this world, you will arrive adjusted. You will know your Maker more than me or your father does. You will actually propel our own readjustment. May you always know the supremacy of His Good. May you find your home in Jesus quickly and from a young age maintain your adjustment in Him. Even though we bring you into a world that is fallen, broken and seems beyond repair, may your spirit encompass the impossible. Even at age 20, would you have a child-like faith in Jesus, always hoping, always believing, always seeing. Thank you in advance for helping me and your father readjust and find our Shalom.

May we three always believe steadfastly in the invisible and together move closer and closer to the only thing worth adjusting for:

our Good Shepherd.