ali's american adventures

Oh that we could all have a Sylvia who we speak such Truth into each of our lives! Thank you for sharing this lesson - one that I, too, need to digest.

#1 Denise (Homepage) on 2011-05-17 18:04

You are useful in so many ways. I NEEDED to read this tonight, I needed to take this to heart and ponder and pray about it in my own life. Thank you for your honesty...it spurs me on to taking a look at my identity and where it lays. To God be the Glory.

#2 Patty Harral on 2011-05-17 18:16

Thank you for your honesty, Ali. You have a way of saying what my heart feels, but my brain can't quite define with words. I often struggle with trying to find my identity in skills I have (and don't have), but the truth is my identity is in Christ. Thanks for that reminder today.

#3 Britney (Homepage) on 2011-05-17 19:26

Amen, Ali! A painful lesson, but it's true. You are enough, and more than enough. You're wearing His Son, and you're downright delightful to Him!

#4 Elisabeth on 2011-05-18 11:53

Thank you for being so honest and sharing this with us. Just by sharing this with us - you have done "enough". I do thank God for your blog....it really has touched my life.

I do hope you are feeling better. Prayers are being said.

#5 Steph on 2011-05-18 19:00

Ali, this is a lesson that God has been teaching me lately. Those of us who are high achievers, and who got to crazy places like Africa through lots of hard work, want to see what we have accomplished. Unfortunately, we can't always see those accomplishments. And that is HARD!!! But, I have come to the conclusion that I'm not here for other people. I'm here because God brought me here, and He wants to do something. And, miracle of miracles, He wants me to be a part of it! I might not see the results anytime soon, either. Another hard thing. But He wants to do His thing, not necessarily through me, but more in me. So, the fact that I'm here is enough. And He loves me. And I'm confident that He is doing His thing--and SO thankful that it doesn't depend on me! Thanks for your honesty

#6 Sophie (Homepage) on 2011-05-19 08:18

Dear Ali,
Once again, Thanks for sharing your heart. It spoke to me deeply.
I've included some verses from Isaiah 30 (ESV)that have been especially dear to me the last week in my intense personal struggles. Just know that you are loved and you are in my prayers.
--Sara, a fellow struggler

Isaiah 30:15, 18-21
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,“In returning and rest you shall be saved;in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
18. Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

#7 cowgirl on 2011-05-19 09:30

Wow. Thank you for sharing this. I so needed to hear this today. I have drilled myself into utter exhaustion...about to break...and I've not been able to figure out WHAT the 'problem' is. And I think you hit the nail on the head. If I'm not working and striving so hard at SOMETHING then I am nothing. My lack of 'trying' will suddenly be cause for judgment and ultimately, abandonment. And it scares me to death. If I'm not doing something or being something, then what/who am I? Thank you for sharing this...because Jesus is enough, then I am enough.

#8 Nikki (Homepage) on 2011-05-19 15:07

Hi Ali! I know you don't know me, but I try to keep up with your blog and all the places you go! Thank you for this post. I too am humbled and encouraged to hear this.

There is also a verse mom friend's mom pointed out in the Psalms that the Lord showed her after she went in for surgery to remove a tumor on her spine and came out paralyzed and cried for many hours and in the end of her tears had the most unspeakable joy from the Lord.
Psalm 6:6-9
I am weary with my sighing
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.
Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,
For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication,
The LORD receives my prayer.

While reading your post, the below song came to mind...

Enough
Chris Tomlin

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

#9 Amanda on 2011-05-20 10:23