Gospel Resiliency with Ruth Chou Simons
Today, we get to hear from Ruth Chou Simons as she talks about unburdening your anxious soul with encouragement stemming from her new book, The Way of the Wildflower. We pray that this episode pressed you to see your own needs for the gospel in whatever areas you are feeling burdened.
NOTES & QUOTES
“I think of how the wildflowers are unapologetic about being a little extra if they're super fancy or a little tall or straight. They're all different. They all look different and they're uniquely made. And I think about how no one flower looks like another and they are uniquely and specifically designed.”
“Resiliency, belovedness, unhurriedness, dependency, and freedom. These are the ways that I'd love to keep on walking in day by day as I remember how a wildflower grows while I'm feeling anxious about things in my life.”
“If you think about what consumes your thoughts, what are the issues that make you go around and around and spin or toil? The wildflower doesn't toil or spin.”
“How do I meditate on the Word of God? How do I meditate on the implications of the Word of God? How do I meditate on these truths that I can apply from the gospel?”
“Life is hard. Life is really hard and these circumstances might challenge us to feel like we cannot experience freedom or belovedness or resiliency, but we really can if we turn to God's Word.”
“Many people have asked me, were you totally freaked out? Were you anxious? Were you crying all the time? I was absolutely tenderhearted. I was scared. I had feelings that obviously a mom would have as her son goes into the OR. I of course shed tears, but there was a resilience in me and Troy that I did not expect. There was a stability and a confidence that no matter whether he could walk or not, whether he could finish his collegiate endeavors or not, whether this would change his life or not, there was an assurance we had that I still marvel at. And I think it's exactly what you just said, where when you practice the way of the wildflower, when you practice casting all your cares on him and not worrying about those things in the day to day… you make a practice of that.”
“Walking in the way of the wildflower isn't a sprint. It's a daily walk. If you walk in it in day by day, then when life takes an unexpected turn or when everything blows up in your life or when the worst happens, you really have exercised those muscles of faith in a way that you actually know what to do next because you've been exercising, you've been practicing those muscles and you have been practicing an awareness that God provides, God sustains, that everything I need comes from the Lord, that there is not one thing that is really on me to even carry out the very things that I need in my life. That idea that by worrying, can I add an hour to my life? No, I can't. So why worry about the rest? That was applied day by day. So when this unthinkable situation happened, Troy and I were able to prayerfully be calm through it, which I think is just such a testimony to the fact that it's a daily walk, right? Walk in a manner that's worthy, Paul writes. Well, that manner is by walking in step with Jesus day by day, not just when it's hard.”
“We all act out of our beliefs, right? And so what you're thinking about, the narrative that's going on in your mind, what you're telling yourself will translate into how you live. Right believing leads to right living. And so I think it really does start with whether or not you are resetting and realigning every day with the truth that you are not as in control as you believe you are. You are not the hero of your own story. You are not the superhero that has to go fix everything.”
“We were meant to rest; resting is not weakness. Resting is actually strength. We're actually meant to have limitations, we can't be perfectly efficient and perfect at all things, having limitations and being able to say, ‘I can't’ or ‘I need help’ or ‘I'm not wise, I need to ask for wisdom.’ All those things are not just human, but they're actually what we're meant to do because we have a Savior, and it's not ourselves, it's Jesus.”
“Anything that will help you remember today that you need Christ is actually sanctifying you and causing you to be strengthened in your faith and more like Jesus.”
“On a practical level, it might mean actually assessing your schedule and saying ‘no’ to some things and recognizing that saying ‘no’ is being aligned with your limitations.”
“If we say to our kids, ‘I need the Lord's help. Mama is incredibly short-tempered today because I am stressing about things that I think I'm in control of. So I'm really sorry for my attitude today. Can we just pause and pray? Pray for mom, but also just pray for the situation.’ That shapes all of our understanding of where our hope comes from. But if you don't say it out loud, then you might not pray about it. And you're just acting like, ‘I'll figure it out, I'll figure it out.’ And you're reinforcing with your children that you're going to just figure it out on your own instead of going to the Lord humbly to acknowledge that you tried to do it on your own and you acted sinfully as a result, and now you're going to repent and turn and surrender again and say, ‘Lord, I need your help.’ And that's a good thing to model day in and day out.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What are some of the anxieties that you feel on a daily basis? What Scripture might offer you encouragement for that specific anxiety? Consider memorizing it.
What are some ways that you could practically grow in dependence on the Lord?
Is it hard for you to live “unhurried”? What are some ways you could grow in living an unhurried life this week?
What is an area of your life right now where you feel weak? How might you lean on God’s strength today?
What might you do or implement based on what you learned in this week’s episode?
RECENT CONVERSATIONS
IMPORTANT NOTE
Journeywomen interviews are intended to serve as a springboard for continued study in the context of your local church. While we carefully select guests each week, interviews do not imply Journeywomen's endorsement of all writings and positions of the interviewee or any other resources mentioned.
Affiliate links used are used where appropriate. Thank you for supporting the products that support Journeywomen!
FOR MORE OF JOURNEYWOMEN
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Follow Us: Instagram | Facebook
Support the podcast by writing a review
