If your faith is evolving, don't be afraid
A life-giving conversation with Sarah Bessey
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Originally, Sarah Bessey and I were going to have almost-book twins. Hers was due to release one week before mine. But publishing schedules happened and yadayadayada her date was changed to February 20 so here we are with what feels like a gift.
Today I’m doing something a little different by hosting a video conversation with Sarah where I want to ask her two primary questions:
What do you say to the person who has a lot of questions about their faith but feels afraid or confused in the disorientation?
What do you say to the person who feels mostly settled in their faith but feels afraid or confused by the questions they see others asking?
Basically we’ll talk about the powerful role fear can play as we navigate our own faith journey and as we work to understand the journey of others. You can watch this tender and life-giving conversation below.
“It turned out that what I thought was the wilderness was actually God’s grace and goodness. What I thought was exile became home, and the misfits became my friends. What I thought twas a dead religion with nothing to offer me but more burdens became a practice of faith that connected me not only to God but to my neighbor. What I thought was the wilderness turned into a homecoming.”
—Sarah Bessey, Field Notes for the Wilderness (p. 25)
To learn more:
Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith
How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away
I’ll take that last question I asked Sarah and turn it to you: What’s one thing you know to be true today? Honestly, I could really use some of your reminders as it’s been a difficult last few days. This conversation with Sarah was a healing balm for me and I hope it is for you too.
I’m glad you’re here.
epf
I know for sure that God’s not a jerk (I usually use a stronger word than jerk, but I’ll spare the Internet some colorful language). Sometimes life is really hard and the world is full of sadness, and so believing God is good becomes really tough. On those days not believing the negative is a lot easier: God’s not a jerk.
What's one thing you know to be true today?
That God is big enough. I am myself in the middle of an evolving faith but I keep clinging to the truth that if God is big enough to create an entire universe with meaning, life and purpose then he is absolutely big enough to handle anything else.
I can't wait to finish this conversation between Emily and Sarah. I don't know what rock I have been under but I just came across her content a few months ago (I'm 100% positive Emily has mentioned her before but I must have missed it.) Either way--it came at such a time. It is no coincidence. I finished Out of Sorts recently and I have started Field Notes and it's just such a comfort to my soul to know that I am not alone in a journey like this. Sarah's story and words are so similar to my own. So similar in fact that the substack that I had begun in order to write and process these things I recently deleted because it was eerily similar to her voice. (I do not regret or begrudge--new words will come at the right time.)
So grateful for this community and for finding inspiration from the Emily's and Sarah's of this world.
Emily--I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for your transparency in your email earlier this week, and the transparency you will share in this new book. I know that some negativity is inevitable but so many of us welcome your words and can relate to them on so many levels.