Unwavering: Living with Defiant Joy Week 2 — Godly Interference

Why are You interfering with me, Jesus? — Luke 8:28

Jesus stands in our way because He is the Way. ~ Stasi Eldredge

Welcome to week two of the Unwavering: Living with Defiant Joy Online Bible Study!

We would love to hear about your experience with week one! Come share with us in our private Facebook group. Remember, there’s also a place for you to share your prayer requests so we can all be praying with each other through this study.

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Why are You interfering with me, Jesus?!

Do you ever feel like that? I do.

When we search for Him, we find Him. When we call, He answers. When we cry, He comforts. ~ Stasi

Lately, I had been trying to tamp down some painful feelings about a conversation that awakened an old wound. I was talking with someone I care for about the issue of being one’s authentic self and how one of the great things about getting older is that we tend to worry less about what other people think and care more about being our truest, realest, most genuine selves in Jesus. I mentioned that a long time ago someone told me I was both “too much and not enough”. Ouch, that stung. With zero idea how her words would thwack me like a 2×4 to the forehead, my friend replied, “Well, you’re not ‘too much’, but you are ‘much’, that’s for sure.” Double ouch. That whole not caring what people think thing? Gone in a flash!

I spent the next days asking the Lord, “Why did You make me so much? Why didn’t You give me a quieter voice, a tamer laugh, a smaller personality, and less of a propensity to be wild? Why can’t I be less… me?” Insecurity and shame slugged me mercilessly. I wanted to hide myself, to turn down my volume, to be less known and seen, to say less and feel less. I determined to be less muchy. To shrink down my much. But, I knew Jesus was wrestling with me and my heart cried out “Why are You interfering with me, Jesus?”

He interferes because He wants us to know we are His. ~ Stasi

Over those days, He came close and challenged and comforted me. “Who are you listening to: others or Me? Whose opinion matters most to you: theirs or Mine? Who is your God: them or Me? I made you to be you on purpose and for a purpose… And, I like you.”

I’d never heard Jesus tell me He likes me before. Isn’t that a sweet word?

We can know that any and all interference that He chooses to set in our way is for our good. He interferes because He loves us. ~ Stasi

He loves the different people, the quiet ones, the loud ones, the in crowd, and the abandoned, the wealthy and the poor, the hip and the uncool, the wise and the uneducated, the needy and those who think they’re not needy, the addicted and the sober, the lame and the strong, and on and on.

Jesus is interfering with you because He wants to prompt you into your identity and your calling. ~ Stasi

He interfered with me and continues to interfere because He loves me in all my muchness, and He loves you…

So much.

This week in your study:

1. Watch the video for session one on our study home page or live with other participants … Take notes in your study guide on pages 27-29.
2. Go through the study questions with your group or on your own on pages 30-34.
3. Read Chapters 3-4 in Defiant Joy.
4. Enjoy your personal study this week on pages 35-46.
5. Come to the watch party on Monday at 8pm CST.
6. Join the conversations in our private Facebook group!

Scriptures this Week

Luke 8:26-28
1 John 3:1
Psalm 119:105
2 Thessaonians 2:16-17

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, we love You. We are so thankful to be children of the living God. We are so thankful that You will mess with our lives, and interfere with what we’ll settle for, and bust open what we prefer to stay closed because You love us that much. Thank You for interfering… for our healing, for our wholeness, for our purpose, for Your plan for our lives. Help us in our wrestling and hear our cries for Your interference, Lord. We love You. Amen.