"Looking for Lovely"

Summer Book Club

“Looking for Lovely”

Wednesday, August 11th

This book!

This book has been such a gift to me this summer. It has helped me to dig in to the depths of myself, my life, my struggles, and my gifts. As I’ve read, I have easily seen beauty in all the parts of Annie’s story. That beauty has helped me to see the beauty in all parts of my story, too.

Maybe that’s why I was very emotional as I read through our chapter this morning. Or, maybe it’s because I followed along in my written copy while I listened to Annie read the Audible version, and I’m pretty sure she was holding back tears as she read. Either way, the chapter is called, “Unfinished,” and it is the perfect last chapter for our book and my own story.

Read the chapter and sit for at least a few moments to consider yourself, your story, and what is unfinished. Practice grace!

Do you feel unfinished?

Do you feel you should be finished?

Do you feel there is a discrepancy between the one-foot version of you and the 30-foot version of you?

On page 178, Annie said,

“Maybe it’s my own weakness being given voice and space, or maybe I’m really tired, and so my resolve isn’t the boss I want it to be. Or maybe this is a spiritual thing, and I’m being bothered by the enemy of our souls. Either way, I’m not winning, and I’m not finished, and I want to be finished.

I want to be all right so that you will think I’m all right. I want to be victorious constantly so that you won’t think I’m a failure. I want to say I find beauty around every corner, but the truth is my eye is drawn to trash as much as it is drawn to treasure.”

Today, I would love for you to answer the questions above with zero guilt or shame. The answer is just the answer, and I would love for us to sit with honest answers covered in pure grace.

We just are where we are, girls. There’s lovely all around and there’s disarray. There are parts that are finished and there are things that still needing attention. God will get to all of it, right? He’s the true author. Let’s take time today to marvel at the beauty of our unfinished story. We’ve made it this far with Jesus. Let’s give grace and space to that.

God, we want so much for our lives. I believe all of us want best for our lives, because You’ve given Your best for our lives. That’s an awesome and holy desire, and sometimes it causes us stress, frustration, and insecurity. Often, we feel we are striving for something we’ll never get. Heal this part of us! Allow us to feel Your grace over our lives. You’ve invited us into relationship with You. Our humanity will create all kinds of obstacles until we meet You face to face. Today, though, would You allow the unfinished story to be the vehicle that drives us straight to You. Cause us to see the beauty of You in all the parts of our story to give us grace for our messes, our failures, our immaturity, and our uncertainty. Being unfinished doesn’t have to be shaming. It can be exciting, because there is more lovely to be uncovered with You. Amen.