Jesus Calling December 11
Alright, let's talk about this whole "Jesus Calling" thing. You know, that devotional that seems to have taken over bookshelves and nightstands everywhere? It's like a spiritual fairy godmother whispering sweet nothings into your ear every single morning. And hey, if that’s your jam, more power to you! But sometimes, just sometimes, I feel like I’m the only one who raises an eyebrow at certain entries.
Today, we're diving headfirst into December 11th. I can practically hear the gentle hum of the celestial choir already. The devotional probably starts with something like, "My dearest child, today I want you to..." And my brain immediately pipes up with, "Uh, is this another gentle nudge to completely redecorate my living room in shades of serene beige?"
The theme for December 11th, if my memory serves me (and let's be honest, my memory is about as reliable as a toddler's promise to eat their vegetables), often revolves around trust. Not just a little bit of trust, mind you. We're talking full-on, leap-of-faith, trust-when-your-gut-is-screaming-at-you kind of trust. It’s the kind of trust that makes you want to nod along and murmur, "Yes, Lord, absolutely!" while simultaneously clutching your wallet a little tighter.
The devotional might present a scenario where you’re facing a big decision. Maybe it’s a career change, a move across the country, or deciding whether to finally buy that ridiculously expensive, yet utterly necessary, coffee machine. And the message is crystal clear: lean into Me. Let go of your worries. I have a perfect plan for you.
And here’s where my little inner voice, the one that sounds suspiciously like my Aunt Carol after a second glass of sherry, chimes in. "But what if the perfect plan involves me eating ramen noodles for a year? What if the perfect plan involves me not getting that corner office? What if the perfect plan involves me discovering my true passion is, in fact, competitive thumb wrestling?"
I mean, is it just me, or does "trusting the plan" sometimes feel a tad like being asked to jump off a cliff with a vague promise of a trampoline at the bottom? A trampoline that might or might not be properly inflated. Or might have a strategically placed banana peel.
"My dearest child, release your grip on the reins of control. Let Me steer your life's vessel."
Oh, Sarah (that's me, by the way, and yes, the devotional often feels very personal, like it knows your embarrassing childhood nickname), that sounds lovely. Truly. But what if I’m really good at steering? What if I’ve been practicing my power slides in the grocery store parking lot? What if my “grip on the reins” is actually the only thing keeping me from driving straight into a donut shop?
The devotional for December 11th also tends to talk about peace. The kind of peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s like a warm, fuzzy blanket for your soul. And I’m all for that! Who doesn't want a fuzzy blanket for their soul? But sometimes, that peace feels like it’s contingent on me having absolutely no earthly possessions and living in a yurt. And while yurts are charming, they don't always have great Wi-Fi.
The message is usually about surrendering your anxieties. Give them to Jesus. He'll handle it. And I try! I really do. I’ll do my little surrender dance, maybe even a quiet little prayer of relinquishment. But then my phone buzzes with an email about my car insurance premium going up, or I remember I haven’t bought toilet paper in a week, and suddenly those anxieties are back, doing the cha-cha with my stress levels.
It’s not that I don’t believe in divine intervention or a higher power guiding things. I do. But sometimes, I think the "Jesus Calling" devotional might be speaking a slightly different dialect of faith than my practical, slightly neurotic, "need-to-pay-my-bills" dialect. It’s like trying to have a deep conversation with someone who only speaks in interpretive dance.
The December 11th entry might emphasize how God's love is constant and unwavering, regardless of your circumstances. And that's beautiful. Truly. But sometimes, in my less-than-zen moments, I wonder if God also has a secret stash of, you know, practical advice for when your milk expires or you get a parking ticket. Like, "My beloved, I see you’ve received a citation. Fear not! Consider it an opportunity to practice patience and perhaps invest in a bicycle."
So, to all the fellow "Jesus Calling" devotees out there, I salute you. You are strong, you are faithful, and you probably have a much better handle on inner peace than I do. But for those of us who are still navigating the choppy waters of daily life, with a healthy dose of skepticism and a penchant for chocolate, maybe December 11th can also be a day to acknowledge that sometimes, trusting the plan also means trusting your own ability to figure things out, one slightly frantic step at a time. And hey, if that doesn’t sound perfectly divine, I don't know what does. Maybe even God enjoys a good laugh at our human-sized struggles.
