Leading up to the release of Stay I will be posting some brief excerpts from the book. This lesson came from a summer outing and watching Hannah “shake off” water in impressive fashion.
The life lesson from Hannah was not how to shake off water. What I need to learn is how she can shake off rejection and disappointment way better than I can. If I say no, Hannah doesn’t get insecure and touchy. When she is rejected, she doesn’t start wondering why she is not good enough. She doesn’t hear condemning barks from her puppyhood. She doesn’t flash back to her littermates mocking her with cruel yips. She doesn’t think, Maybe Dad doesn’t like that toy; if I bring his favorite toy I’m sure he won’t be able to resist. Hannah doesn’t slink away and hide, thinking she is worthless if I don’t respond. She simply accepts that now is not the time and communicates through her body language and gaze that everything’s okay—she’s cool with me. Oh, and by the way, I’ll be back soon. Hannah doesn’t shut down. She simply tries again, with self-image undaunted.
Not so for me. I immediately hear the voices of condemnation when I am rejected or someone is angry at me. I couldn’t think of any verses about shaking off water, but I did recall a verse from Hebrews about “shaking” or “throwing” off those things that cause us to stumble.
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (12:1, NIV)
When she climbs out of the pool, Hannah has definitely learned how to throw off the water that hinders her. I love the imagery of getting up and shaking off all the things (even some good things) that hinder me from an intimate relationship with God.
Did you catch the part that it is not only sin that entangles us? That is what I tended to dwell on—to “get better” for God and be more “righteous.” But the verse says to throw off any weight or encumbrance. In order for me to be used most effectively for God, that good thing that is not the best thing has to go. As Timothy Keller explains perfectly, “An idol is a good thing turned into an ultimate thing.”
The Dogs of Stay – Shake it Off!
Dave BurchettLeading up to the release of Stay I will be posting some brief excerpts from the book. This lesson came from a summer outing and watching Hannah “shake off” water in impressive fashion.
The life lesson from Hannah was not how to shake off water. What I need to learn is how she can shake off rejection and disappointment way better than I can. If I say no, Hannah doesn’t get insecure and touchy. When she is rejected, she doesn’t start wondering why she is not good enough. She doesn’t hear condemning barks from her puppyhood. She doesn’t flash back to her littermates mocking her with cruel yips. She doesn’t think, Maybe Dad doesn’t like that toy; if I bring his favorite toy I’m sure he won’t be able to resist. Hannah doesn’t slink away and hide, thinking she is worthless if I don’t respond. She simply accepts that now is not the time and communicates through her body language and gaze that everything’s okay—she’s cool with me. Oh, and by the way, I’ll be back soon. Hannah doesn’t shut down. She simply tries again, with self-image undaunted.
Not so for me. I immediately hear the voices of condemnation when I am rejected or someone is angry at me. I couldn’t think of any verses about shaking off water, but I did recall a verse from Hebrews about “shaking” or “throwing” off those things that cause us to stumble.
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (12:1, NIV)
When she climbs out of the pool, Hannah has definitely learned how to throw off the water that hinders her. I love the imagery of getting up and shaking off all the things (even some good things) that hinder me from an intimate relationship with God.
Did you catch the part that it is not only sin that entangles us? That is what I tended to dwell on—to “get better” for God and be more “righteous.” But the verse says to throw off any weight or encumbrance. In order for me to be used most effectively for God, that good thing that is not the best thing has to go. As Timothy Keller explains perfectly, “An idol is a good thing turned into an ultimate thing.”
Taken from Stay by Dave Burchett copyright © 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.