Listen to Your Questions and Limits...
What Do They Reveal?
My human nature seems to be drawn to the limits, much like young Simba in Lion King, where he ended up surrounded by the taunting hyenas.
The Elephant Graveyard Scene - Lion King
I too can find an audience of voices that gather around the fringes of my mind. They murmur loudly, making known their conflicting and demanding ideas. They are vague yet carry insistent pressure.
When I take my cue from the chaos at the outer edges, to do lists materialize, highlighting the most urgent and immediate tasks. Somehow the “important” ones slip away amidst the persistent whirlwind of thoughts.
A part of me is curious and naively seeks answers. It wants to know the inner working of things, the coordination of details, the precise timing of events, and whether I’ll be adequately prepared. The underlying motivation behind this quest is a desire for safety, certainty, and peace.
When this part takes the lead, my ability to hear God’s guidance is obstructed.
Jesus has something to teach us:
John 10:1-5
I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Considering this scripture, the fruit produced by my desire to be “in the know” is cunning and deceitful and out and out robbery like the man climbing into the sheep pen deceptively. I am robbed of peace, the ability to hear the Good Shepherd and His guidance, and become a slave to the taunts of the enemy.
This scripture immediately followed Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees. It was their “knowledge” that got in the way of them seeing and knowing the Truth right in front of them. Putting this into words resonates on a personal level.
Earlier this month, I felt cornered with barriers in every direction. As I listened for His voice, all I heard were the murmurs of the crowd and the vague intensity was growing. The more I reached the louder they became. I repeatedly bumped up against the limits.
I’m coming to understand that bumping into limits is an invitation to surrender. It was only in surrendering that I was able to hear, and this is what I sensed God saying, “I am in the limits,” and “I am at your limits.”
In essence, freedom is found in our limits as they provide opportunities to rely on and commune with God.
As I was postured in a better position to listen, this quote by Rainer Maria Rilke came to mind…
“Be patient towards all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms, like books written in a foreign tongue. Do not now strive to uncover answers: they cannot be given you because you have not been able to live them. And what matters is to live everything. Live the questions for now. Perhaps then you will gradually, without noticing it, live your way into the answer, one distant day in the future.”
As I absorbed Rainer’s words about loving the questions, the part compelled “to know” experienced an unburdening. My soul began to breathe softer and lighter. The drive to have the “answers” dwindled, and the murmurs of the audience faded. I once again heard His still small voice assuring me of the goodness and trustworthiness of my Shepherd. When I need to know, He will guide me.
Just as Mufasa comes and rescues young Simba in the Lion King, so too did the Good Shepherd rescue me. The more I allow him to come to my rescue and humbly surrender, the deeper my understanding of the Good Shepherd will become. He is gentle, merciful, enduringly patient, and full of love for me. He assures us that the more we know Him the more we’ll recognize His voice and choose to follow Him.
What if your approach to listening changed when faced with limitations? Instead of trying to remove them or pushing yourself harder, what if you consciously embraced them?
Try leaning in with a heart surrendered and open to the message within the limit. Invite God into the frustration, anger, overwhelm, or longing. Name these emotions before the Great I Am, who is in the limit and at the edge, yet He Himself is limitless.
The start of a new year provides a great opportunity to lean into our limits with a fresh perspective. Speaking of which, Happy New Year!
I love year end reflections and new year look forwards. It’s an opportunity to listen to our past and be reminded of what it wants to teach us. While also, listening with hopeful expectation of what that might mean for the upcoming year.
This year, I used a mixed version of Year End “Prep Work” that originated from previous years of using the PowerSheets Goal Planner.
Part of the process includes reflection on what worked and what didn’t work in the past year. This desire “to know” surfaced repeatedly. Weaving this insight together with Rilke’s quote above spoke volumes.
Another aspect of the “Prep Work”, involves finding a meaningful word that captures what matters for the year ahead.
In 2024, my chosen word is “Connection”. Some years, there is a struggle to find the perfect word, this year, the word found me. Here’s how I envision it unfolding in the upcoming year:
Connect via listening to the questions I carry and living them out. Pay attention to the arrows, puzzle pieces, and breadcrumbs revealed by the Good Shepherd. Stay curious, open handed, and trusting.
Strengthening my connection to the Good Shepherd by disengaging from the murmuring audience lingering at the edges and deepening my knowledge of Him.
Foster stronger connections with you, my readers.
Identify and articulate connections between the physical and spiritual realm.
Continue to facilitate connections and draw meaningful correlations for my coaching clients.
Shifting the focus from me, I’m interested in hearing about your year-end reflection process and how you name what matters for the upcoming year.
If you have a routine or method, I’d love to hear about it. Additionally, if you value choosing a word for the upcoming year or season, I encourage you share it in the comments. Engaging with you in that dialogue and fostering connections among my readers would bring me great joy.
I’d like to share a couple of valuable resources with you:
How to Listen for God’s Voice is a resource I created based on insights from “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller. This tool provides a daily roadmap drawing inspiration from Psalm 23, showing how and why to let yourself be led by the Good Shepherd.
With the arrival of the New Year comes a natural inclination for increased clarity, purpose, and intentionality. If you’re interested in exploring how coaching can help connect the dots for the year ahead, send me an email directly at lisa@lisacrowdercoaching.com. We can arrange a complimentary 30-minute “Discuss the Possibilities Call” to consider how coaching could have a positive impact on your life.
Til next time…
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If you have a friend that you think would appreciate these words, perhaps you could bless them by sharing.
Here a few other Hope*Writer friends with thoughts about listening…
I think my word for the year will be "embrace" the journey. Whether it is aging, injuries, health challenges, family, activities, distractions or assignments from God; I want to embrace them all with joy, perseverance and love. Thanks Lisa for another inspiration of God leading us to victory.
I love your word connection ! So much ,no everything begins there! Let us be connected to the Vine! On the 1st day of every year I seek the Lord and ask” Lord Jesus , What shall I focus on this year? Please give me a word”. Last year my “word” was “sacred security” ,2022 was confident conviction.
This year it is steadfast. I resolve to be steadfast. So while we are just 3 weeks away from our grandsons 1st brain surgery , God has renewed a steadfast Spirit with in me. I will continue the labor that He has called me to and I will not fear. ><>