Articles & Posts
Resilience
I've been thinking a lot about resilience. Who thrives during hard times, who doesn’t, and why. Because I want my friends—including you!—to thrive, in spite of these days. I want to thrive myself. And this crazy year has me realizing that thriving requires resilience. Spoiler—I’m not going to lay anything heavy on you. We are all weary. I’m asking God for a heavenly provision of resilience! I was thinking back to what it must have been like to live in occupied Europe during WWII, or besieged England. Never knowing when a bomb might drop, or a tank roll through your front yard. The local baker would go out after the London bombings (sometimes during them) and help pull neighbors from the rubble of fallen buildings, then put on his white apron and open shop next morning. Our grandparents and great-grandparents lived through those rough years with a kind of resilience I think we would each love to have in this hour. Maybe resilience is part of what God is doing in us right now. When we were all learning to drive, the idea of a ten-hour road trip seemed overwhelming; but now, many people enjoy them, do them for vacation. I love road trips! When we were learning to read, the size of those adult books on our parents’ shelves seemed so daunting; now, people relish long novels, or tomes like The Lord of the Rings. Stasi and I reread the trilogy every few years. We have all developed resilience in those areas. The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen is hailed as one of the greatest polar explorers ever. He was first ever to reach the South Pole in 1911. As a boy, he dreamed of being a polar explorer, so he would sleep with his bedroom windows open during Norgegian winters to develop resilience. How many parents would let their child do that these days?! The era we just lived through—what I would call the “Comfort Culture”—may have not prepared us very well for hard times. Before there was any pandemic, universities were reporting that their mental health services were being overwhelmed by freshmen within the first few weeks of a new year (primarily with issues of anxiety and depression). The director of a program designed to prepare freshmen for the college years told me recently, “18 is the new 12. Our students are emotionally underdeveloped. They are much less resilient than any we've ever encountered, and I’m not entirely sure why.” There are many reasons, of course. Human beings are beautifully complicated. But honestly—when you grow up in a world where everything is done with a few clicks on your phone, it doesn't exactly develop strong “soul muscles.” Anyone living in the developed world has experienced a level of ease no previous generation knew. Let me be quick to say, I have fully enjoyed all the conveniences of our modern moment. But I'm also aware that they have made me soft. The World War II generation emerged from the Great Depression with a sense of reality, grit and resilience. Maybe we will emerge from this tough time with new resilience. I sure hope so! Meanwhile, we need some strength. And the wonderful news is, our kind and compassionate Father loves to give his people new strength! The scriptures are filled with prayers, blessings and promises that God himself—Creator of the universe—will strengthen us from the inside out: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11) I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being... (Ephesians 3:14-16) May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13) May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) May your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:26) Isn’t it encouraging simply to read those passages? Maybe we begin here—by praying these verses for ourselves. By asking God to strengthen our resilience in this tough time. Cut out these verses, tape them to your fridge or bathroom mirror and pray them! May your hearts live! May you be strengthened with a glorious inner strength! Download the Wild at Heart September 2020 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Superior
People like the better things. I admit, some things are better than others. There are donuts and then there are donuts. There are shoes and then there are shoes. Some items are made out of higher quality ingredients. They tend to be better. You may even call them superior. But what about people? I recently had a conversation with a really good man who is a solid believer. In the conversation, however, he felt the need to mention that Adam was created by God prior to Eve about six times. Yes, he was right. This is true. Adam was created first and then God said, “It isn’t good for man to be alone.” Something was needed. Someone was needed. Woman was needed. Eve. The Helper Completer. The one who made all of creation named GOOD. The one who Adam would need in order to save his life. The one man would need in order to have their lives saved. Remember, the mandate to have a fierce mastery over the earth was given in Genesis to both Adam and Eve together. It’s going to take both of them. In order for the Kingdom of God to advance as it is meant to advance, it’s going to take all of the church working together. Not half of it. The feminine half is needed. Yes and Amen. What I sensed after my conversation with this man, who I really enjoyed by the way, was that underneath his particular stressing that man was created first was the belief that men are therefore superior to women. Superior to women. And hasn’t that been strewn into religions and cultures from time immemorial? IT ISN’T TRUE. (Boy, does the rampant nature of that thought make me mad. Yes, it’s okay to be mad at unrighteousness.) Women have been told that they are inferior to men throughout history, and this message remains woven throughout our culture in both blatant and subtle ways. It’s not a message from our Jesus—who elevated women powerfully and continues to do so—it is a message from the pit of Hell designed to keep women from offering their powerful and passionate hearts and lives as they are created to do. Women readers, mercy to you right now. Is there a place you would like to be offering that you have yet had the courage to do? Is there something you are passionate about that you have yet begun to step into? Do you know that you are designed to play an irreplaceable role in the world you inhabit in order to bring Jesus? The Kingdom of God needs you. Offering your unique gifting is superior to hiding it out of fear or intimidation. Coming alive to the reality that you are the Beloved of Christ—a channel of his very being—is superior to not knowing his love and presence in your life as he so desires. Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city.... Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. (Isaiah 52) Realizing that there are subtle ways both men and women diminish the roles that women play, are meant to play, and instead choosing to encourage them is superior to thoughtlessly agreeing with the enemy and somehow thinking women are inferior to men. I am blessed to live in the company of good men and women who recognize the essential role that women play in every dimension of life. The hidden places and the seen places. The behind the scene places and the up-front places. The places that go mostly unnoticed and the places that are applauded. It all matters, friends. And God sees it all and champions your heart. Let’s champion one another’s as well. That is the superior way.
Stasi Eldredge
Strengthen Your Union with God
When I wrote in July, I asked you a question: What story are you living in? Is it the story God is telling, or a story given to you by man? Then Stasi shared with me this quote, attributed to A.W. Tozer: “Listen to no man who has not listened to God.” That’s a really good way of putting it. We need help interpreting our times. We need guidance. As much as God is willing to tell us, we need a sense of what’s coming next, so we can plan and live wisely. In an hour like this––so fraught with emotion, strong opinion, with vulnerabilities on every side––we must be careful that the interpretation we are holding onto is one that comes from God. It’s just too easy to go with our emotions, the storylines shouted by the media, or simply a take on things that compliments our own preferences. What is God saying? Are these ordinary times, in the sense that they are merely the latest speed bumps in a broken world we will shortly overcome? Or are these extraordinary times––times that call for real discernment and prayer? Back in April, when the pandemic was reaching its first peak, I was asking God for mercy on the world. “I will have mercy,” he said. “There will be a lull. But then late summer the pandemic will resurge.” “And what is coming next, Lord,” I asked. He replied, “Social unrest.” “Social unrest?” I asked. That seemed strange to me because at the time the world was pretty much locked down. No one was on the streets (this was before any protests or riots). “Yes,” he said, “massive social unrest.” Shortly after that our cities blew up. But I had a sense more unrest is on its way. The pandemic does seem to be resurging. On top of that, so much hatred and animosity in America (and many other nations, too). It doesn’t take a prophet to tell you that this fall’s presidential campaign will provoke even deeper chasms in our country. Everything in me wants to cling to a storyline promising quick resolution and life going back to normal. But I don’t think that’s what we get. So I’m writing to you to continue to offer counsel for navigating what may be even tougher days ahead. I’m not wishing it upon us; I continue to pray for mercy. But the uncertainty of what schools will look like puts a lot of families in really hard situations this fall, on top of the worsening pandemic, economic distress, and growing social rancor. Back in the spring, Jesus said there would be a lull. I believe the summer has been that lull. Not for everyone of course. But most places eased the restrictions; folks were able to get out and see family and friends. Many people enjoyed something of the simple joys summer brings, like picnics at the park, time at the beach, or mountains. I asked Jesus, “What now, Lord?” And he said, “Use this time to strengthen your union with me.” Such loving, wise counsel. We are a hard-pressed people; these months have taken a toll. (Surely you’ve noticed the exhaustion, mental fragmentation, low reserves, irritability, comfort-eating, comfort-drinking?) We don’t want to go into a tough fall with low emotional and spiritual reserves. Let’s make a daily practice of the things that strengthen our actual living union with Jesus Christ––so we can draw upon his strength, comfort, and counsel in the days ahead. Things like worship, prayer, sacrament; practicing stillness, and above all, loving Jesus. There is nothing that strengthens our union with Jesus like the practice of loving him. We also need to invoke love into our lives and communities. There are dark spirits of hatred, provocation, and suppression trying to get in. Love is our rescue; love will be our rescue this fall. It isn’t a coincidence that when the old apostle John writes about the coming of the antichrist, death and hatred into the world, he urges his readers to love––to let the love of God fill them, and to be vigilant to live only from love. (Have a read of 1 John if it’s been a while.) Just this week Alex asked me, “Have you read the end of Love and War recently? I think Jesus was speaking through you guys towards this moment we are now in.” He handed me this passage: I [John] Have been reading a book by a young soldier who fought all four years of WWII. He saw the main action in Africa, Italy, Normandy, and Germany. A sensitive and thoughtful young man, he knew what terrible effects war has upon those who have to fight it: “The last weeks have been hard, filled with many bitter, hateful things and only a few short happy interludes. I have come to the extremity of knowing beyond all doubt that...We must love one another or die.” I thought of Jesus' warning about the end of the age, how as times grow dark and people feel more keenly pressed, love will grow rare. "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24:7, 12). These are trying times, for all of us. I venture we will see even more trying times. But the soldier was right...We must love one another, or die. Because love is what we are created for; it is the reason for our existence. Love is our destiny. Love God and love one another—these are the two great commands upon the human race. The secret to life is this—we are here in order to learn how to love. Stasi and I wrote that twelve years ago. It sure seems a whole lot more urgent now. So two things I leave with you this month: Make a daily practice of strengthening your union with Christ. Make it a priority. Prayer. Worship. Scripture. Sacrament. Everything and anything that strengthens your soul’s actual union with God. Especially loving Jesus. And, be vigilant in love. Make no room for the hatred and acrimony sweeping the earth (including hatred of God). Let’s invoke the love of God into our communities and world. It might be the thing that makes the greatest difference in this hour. In love, John Download the Wild At Heart August 2020 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
What Is the Story You Are Telling Yourself?
Well, events in the world continue to swirl with uncertainty. Tensions rise. The pandemic resurges. A fresh round of lockdowns is upon many of us. People and governments are reaching for control. This could be a tough fall. Really rough times on our humanity; draining on the heart and soul. Even the best of us are feeling pretty tapped-out right now. So––what’s the story you are telling yourself? Remember, story is the way we orient ourselves in the world. Story is the way we figure things out, bring order and meaning to the events around us. The story we hold to at any given time shapes our perceptions, our hopes, and expectations; it gives us a place to stand. In this mad hour on the earth, what story are you telling yourself––or letting others tell you? Is it a political narrative? A social narrative? One story getting a lot of traction at the moment is the story of vague doom: O man, things are really coming apart. Another popular story is political optimism: Once we get the right people and policies in place, everything will be okay. There is, of course, the story of unrelenting uncertainty: Nobody knows what to do, or what’s really going to happen. And, there’s always the old survival narrative: Just hunker down, wait it out, medicate. There are a lot of stories out there right now, all competing for your allegiance. Your submission. Every day, I find myself needing to come back to the story Jesus is actually telling. There is a true version of the story, by the way; only one story, written by the hand of God. Friends of Jesus know that we won’t see clearly until our hearts and minds are safe in the story God is telling—situated in the truth, interpreting things from God’s point of view, our feet on solid ground, our hopes and expectations all in the right place. For example, let me remind you of some of the core truths of the Biblical Narrative… God is very, very good. (Does that grip our hearts right now?) God is always deeply involved. (Does that seem true?) We live in a Love Story, set in a world at war. (It’s always been so, ever since the Fall.) We know things are rough before a wonderful turn of events. (No to uncertainty!) Can you see how even one of these truths would rescue you in this mad hour? Let’s continue to delve deeper, get ourselves out of the news and chaos. I’m wondering how the story of God in Psalm 23 might inform the story we are believing… The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Jesus remains deeply involved in my life and world––guiding, leading, providing.) He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. (God restores my weary heart...if I follow him. Where are my pastures and still waters, Lord?) He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Don’t get baited into the wrong battles; let God guide you in the path he has for you.) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Yes, we are in a dark time. But God is still protecting me and comforting me. I am not alone.) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Not only that, God has a feast of goodness for me even in war; he fills my life with blessing!) Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (My reality is not determined by the pandemic, or violence, or the presidential election. God will always be faithful to me. My future is absolutely wonderful.) Maybe you should tape this to the fridge, and say it out loud every day. Do not let the world tell you what the story is. Only Jesus gets that place in your life! Offered in love, John Download the Wild at Heart July 2020 newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Lessons From a Fat Life
If you are a judgmental person, then please stop reading immediately. This is not for you. If you are reading so that you can feel better about your “Self” – your own less large failures – by comparing them to mine, then you can let this pass as well. But if you are in need of mercy, compassion – maybe even some understanding – then greetings to you. Read on. The thing is, we all have struggles. We all live with areas where we are failing, and we all know what it is like to have places where we are not yet walking in the fullness of the victory Jesus has won for us. Our struggles may look different from one another on the outside, but if we were able to peer within the angst of a person’s soul awake in the middle of the night, tossing and turning with grief and self-blame, we would recognize the similarities. I have my share of struggles. I have more than my share of victories. I am well acquainted with failure and I am bathed in measureless grace. Yet, the grip food has had on me remains the defining battle of my adult life. I get free. I think I’m done. It comes back. It has caused me tidal waves of embarrassment and swept me away in shame. It has led me to dig deep in order to stand against the screaming accusation that as I am failing here – in such a key area – I am disqualified as a lover of God, a teacher of his goodness, a woman meant to draw others to his heart. It is simply NOT TRUE. Not for me. Not for you. No one chooses to carry excessive weight. No one signs up to have an obsession with and an addiction to food. No one stands in line to bear humiliation and to feel disqualified from the life they had hoped to live. Shame, self-loathing, and self-hatred are wicked stepsisters releasing the fumes of hell. They are aligned with the enemy’s sulphuric breath. They are familiar partners with every addiction. They make up the links of unyielding chains. They are LIARS unseated by the Blood of Jesus. Here’s something to consider…maybe your addiction, maybe mine, is not actually our fault. Maybe the reason for it does not lie in some massive lack of self-control and failure as a human being. Perhaps it is not related to the people in your life. Maybe your husband has nothing to do with it. Maybe your lack of one is completely unrelated. Maybe your children are innocent bystanders. Maybe you are. Mercy. If you are struggling now, what if the unseen enemy has targeted you from the very beginning because he knows what your destiny is and he has unleashed every weapon in his arsenal to keep you from living in it and from it. What if he so fears you that he has tried to bind you in agony to keep you home – keep you silent – keep you from offering what you possess and see and love. What if you are more glorious than you even dreamed? What if it’s true that though man looks at the outward appearance, God does look at the heart and when he looks at you - you take his breath away? What if what has been forged in you through this fiery, painful ordeal is more priceless than gold? Because even now as you read, you are glancing Jesus’ way yet again for hope, for change, for freedom, for strength, for love, for faith, for mercy, for one more day - and in so doing, you are conquering his heart. Go ahead and ask him. He speaks “YES” over you. The answer is “Yes”. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. And it begins on the inside. It begins with a rejection of self-hatred and an embracing of self-love, which is simply agreeing with how Heaven feels about you. Until we agree with what Heaven knows about us to be true, our lives will not go or flow or flourish as they are meant to. We know from the Word of God that his mercies are new every morning. They never run out. He is not tired of us coming to him again. And again. And oh yeah, again. He looks at us with compassion. He understands our struggles and why we have them and the truth that THEY DO NOT DEFINE US. Only Jesus does that, beloved. Only Jesus. You are your Father’s child. You are the beloved of God. You are the chosen and holy one who has been bought with the precious blood of Jesus and you belong to him. Your future is assured. Your destiny is stunning. One day you and I will run in a depth of freedom not known since the Garden and we will look like, and be, who we truly are. Even now, he says we are beautiful. He is not disappointed. He is not ashamed. He beckons us again to come close. To forgive him for not freeing us with a snap of his fingers but in some mysterious reckoning of eternity allowing this struggle to continue. Maybe this is one of the ways that we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ Jesus. Maybe. For a little while. And the way that our addictions have harmed the ones we love? Oh God, we plead your mercy. We ask for their forgiveness. And may what they have suffered be added to the account making up the balance for all our Jesus endured. Because freedom is our birthright. Again I tell you, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Free from Self-Hatred. Free from Shame. Free from Condemnation. Free from Accusation. Free from Judgment. Free from Sin. I don’t want to be fat forever. Not on this side. I don’t believe I will be because I am discovering the assignments and strongholds the enemy has made and claimed and I am breaking then, rejecting them, and cutting them off in the mighty Name of our King. Satan has lost. He has lost me. And fat or normal weighted, I am the beloved of Christ and so are you. Press on. Press in. You are invited and welcomed into the arms of your Father.
Stasi Eldredge
Name Change and June 2020 Newsletter
Dear Friends and Allies, I am so aware as I write this, that by the time it reaches you mid-June the world may have changed again. Right as we were beginning to emerge from the total lock-down days of the quarantines, just beginning to let our souls enjoy some normal life returning, the heartbreaking deaths and social upheaval broke out. It was like a one-two punch. Our world continues to be shaken, and we want to help you find Jesus to guide you through each and every step. I hope you are tracking with our podcast because it's a more current method for us to provide guidance and prayer in these rough waters. Stasi and I recorded a special installment on June 3rd on the social upheaval; I hope you've had an opportunity to listen to that. There is some good prayer to enter into and some insights on all that is unfolding. Today, I'd love to bring some bright news to you. It begins with a very Jesus kind of story... Our little team here has a great big passion for bringing more hearts and souls into the healing life Jesus offers, into the adventure of intimacy with him, and into the strong protections given to us in the kingdom of God for a moment like ours. So prior to the pandemic, our team began to lay out plans for the expansion of our work in the world––bringing this exquisite Gospel to a million new lives. Then Covid 19 hit, and with it the quarantines, followed by the massive economic collapse around the world. It was at this moment, back in the spring––when many ministries and churches were having to lay people off, and canceling events––that we went to our board with plans for growth this year and next. We honestly thought they would counsel us to cut back, play it safe, “wait and see.” They did not. Instead, they did exactly what we had been hearing Jesus say all along––they told us to grow, reach out, offer everything we have. “Now is not the time to pull back,” they said. “The world needs exactly what you have. They need this Gospel of the heart; they need the healing, guidance, and strength this message offers. Full steam ahead!” Really?, I thought. Ookaay. I felt like Peter in the storm, Jesus reaching out his hand, urging me out onto the water. Okay, Lord. Yes. Absolutely! Yes. Full steam ahead. Part of our plan for reaching more beautiful, broken souls around the globe involves something I wanted to announce this month––we're changing our name! We've been doing a good bit of research, and listening to the wise counsel of some very helpful consultants, and what we’ve discovered is that 90% of our book readers have no idea Ransomed Heart even exists. That was heartbreaking news for us. “You guys are very hard to find,” our advisors said. “People aren’t looking for Ransomed Heart. Most folks don't even know what your name means, and, it's hard to spell.” We were laughing when they said this, because of the many stories that have been coming through our doors. We receive packages and mail to “Random Parts,” “Rancid Hearts,” even “Ranz Med Hearts” (those folks think we’re a medical company). When our staff tries to give people their email, they have to spell it multiple times. “It's Polly at ransomed heart; r-a-n-s-o-m-e-d…” Meanwhile, we do have a brand with massive recognition around the world, and that brand is Wild at Heart. I wish we had a dollar for every time this scenario happened: Someone asks our staff, “Where do you work?” and they reply “Ransomed Heart!” “What's that?” “Well, have you heard of a book called Wild at Heart?” “Oh yeah! I know that book! My uncle…” and off the stories go. So many great stories. So, we've simply decided to help people find us, and increase our reach, by renaming the ministry Wild at Heart. Wildatheart.org. Everything else stays the same. We’re the same group of people, doing the same great work. Reaching out to both men and women, all around the world. The only thing that's changing is that we are making ourselves easier to find, so we can reach more people! In fact, we’ve been praying hard about these chaotic times, and Jesus has promised us that we have many, many more hearts and lives we have been entrusted with, new members of the tribe we have not yet reached. That simply thrills us! Starting this month the Ransomed Heart podcast will become the Wild at Heart podcast, a change in name only. Same great folks bringing you the same great messages. This newsletter will become the Wild at Heart newsletter; our Daily Reading the Wild at Heart Daily Reading, etc. I’m hoping you can help us. I know these are rocky economic times for many, and I want to thank each of you who have been able to send support during such a tough period. We are so grateful for your gifts! And I wanted to ask, humbly, boldly, if you could help us with our expansion around the globe to reach all of the people who so desperately need the healing love of Jesus, the beauty of this intimacy with him, the tools to navigate the war on the earth at this time. The hour is late. There is so much to be done. If you’re able to help us with a gift, those dollars will go towards rescuing a lot of folks while we disciple and equip our friends to thrive in this really tough hour. If you're in a position to help, you can send support in the enclosed envelope, or, if it's easier, you can donate online at wildatheart.org. Oh friends, I know how hard these times are right now. Hard on the heart and soul; hard to see our world breaking up. We simply must keep our eyes on Jesus! I pray you are plugging into our resources for your strength and encouragement, for the resilience of your soul! Because we love you, and we are here for you! With so much gratitude, John Download the Wild at Heart June 2020 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Embracing the Gray
Like many women my age, the COVID 19 pandemic has exposed not only false comforters in my life and heart, but the roots of my hair. Unearthing the roots of unhealthy patterns in my life for the purposes of healing and freedom is a most welcome move of God. The revealing of my expansive gray previously hidden underneath the skill of a marvelous beauty salon technician is another matter. I’m 60 years old. Am I ready to be gray? I always imagined myself as an older woman with long gray hair ignoring my mother’s exhortations to cut it once I turned 45. But that is years away, isn’t it? Last week, I had the privilege of laying on the bed with my daughter (in-law) who had given birth the day before to her and my son’s first son. We had all quarantined in such a way so that my husband and I could be there, be helpful, offer care for them and our other precious granddaughter. Anyway, there we were lying on the bed and she lifted up her nightgown exposing her motherly belly and began to speak aloud blessings to her body. “I bless you my organs as you shift back into place.” “I bless you my stretch marks.” “I bless you my post-partum body.” She went on. It was powerful. It was stunning. It was needed. And it IS rare. Her body had carried, then labored and delivered an 8 pound human being! How miraculous! What a wonder! It now is entering the recovery stage. It won’t be the same body she knew prior to becoming pregnant with her son regardless of what tabloid articles suggest. I bless her and I bless God that she both knows that and embraces it. Embracing the move of God in her body as it changes and functions and matures is a beautiful thing. Embracing the move of God in any part of our lives is a beautiful thing. He moves within us and around us. He moves for us and through us. The more we say “Yes’ to his moves and cooperate with him – the more beautiful we are. There are areas in my life that I feel his invitation to say “Yes” to that aren’t easy yet my heart’s deepest desire it to follow him wherever he leads. He is faithful and he is worthy of my trust. He has my ultimate “Yes” over my life. I don’t feel though, that he is overly concerned with the color of my hair. He wants me to like it - to feel good about it regardless of what color I choose it to be. But here and now, I am learning from my daughter and I am blessing my changing and aging body and the shifting shade of my hair. The old has gone, the new has come! I am 60 years old. I have long gray hair. I bless it.
Stasi Eldredge
Morgan's Book, Becoming A King
Though we are still in the midst of the pandemic, I think the healthiest thing we can do is not always talk about the pandemic! What I’d much rather do this month—what I am so excited to share with you—is an excerpt from our teammate Morgan Snyder’s first book, Becoming a King, which comes out May 26! Here’s why I think this is really fitting… We are all hoping to come out of this hard, shared, global trial stronger, more mature, and more rooted in Jesus. Becoming a King is a book all about that, about the process God takes us through in order to shape us into the kind of people he can entrust with his kingdom. Morgan begins with a tough time in his life, which I think we can all relate to: “More than a decade ago, I found myself in a personal wilderness—lost, alone, disoriented, and very afraid. In a bitter place. I had a beautiful wife, two healthy and happy kids, meaningful work, and the beginning of a little nest egg for the future. What more could a man ask for? But when I was finally honest with myself, the steady waves of discouragement and anxiety were undeniable. Looking at my life as an iceberg, the 10 percent above the waterline looked impressive. But the 90 percent below told another story: I was not well; I was submerged in pain and confusion. My inner life was not what I’d envisioned. Perhaps better said, I had not become who I’d envisioned. I’d made what I thought were good, honorable decisions to get where I was. But where I was wasn’t good, at least not on the inside. And so, as every good story goes, I left the comfortable and set my soul on a quest. It began with a single letter. I found the oldest man I knew and respected, and I put pen to paper the questions in my heart. In time I formed a list of all the older men who, in one way or another, had a place in my story. I sent letters to them, asking for their counsel. I asked those in faraway states or countries for a letter in return or a phone call. Responses from those closer by came in conversations over a pint or with a cigar by a campfire. As the experiences grew, so did the list. I kept adding to the ranks more and more guides, men in front of me on the masculine journey. Over two years’ time, the number grew to nearly seventy-five sages, with whom came a treasure chest of clues to an ancient path. As I sat in their counsel with a stack of notes, I started to notice the themes of their responses, and with those in hand, I began to add to their advice the counsel of the great heroes of our faith down through the ages. The Father’s affection and assurance began to break through to my lost and weary soul. Son, you’re not behind. You are on time. And you’re going to be okay. The lives of these elders represented a variety of vocations, socioeconomic thresholds, faith practices, and journeys. Yet through the diverse experiences of these men, a common path emerged: each man had been entrusted with power and had to navigate a process of restoration to become the kind of man who could handle it. There were consistent themes, spoken in many different terms but all with the same heartbeat. Men reclaiming their identity, their strength, their integrity, and their purpose through becoming a student, becoming a son, and consenting to the slow and steady process of inner transformation.” I (John here) want to pause the excerpt for a moment to highlight a few things. First, the path of the transformation we all long for is something we simply have to accept takes place over time, in a “slow and steady process.” It’s important we name that, because our world of smartphones, Amazon, and Netflix taught us we can have anything, everything, really quickly. It’s just not true; especially in the life of the soul. But there is a process we can discover, there is an “ancient path” of life with God. This is what Becoming a King is all about... “As the years transpired, a map took shape around signposts rendered from the joy and suffering I witnessed in the lives of these men. After a decade, through the urging of trusted friends and growing out of my work rescuing and restoring the hearts of men, I began to realize this map was not for me alone. It was meant to be shared. This message is my effort to share that map.” We’ve put together a fabulous package of resources available for all those who place an order for Becoming a King this month, including a special podcast with Morgan’s wife Cherie and the wives of men who have consented to the path and process of Becoming a King for more than a decade! Preorders also come with immediate access to the first three sessions of the Becoming a King Video Series and the first three chapters of the Becoming a King Study Guide. You can order now at www.becomingaking.com. Over these really rough months we’re living through, I’ve been saying to everyone I can, “Let’s make the enemy regret this! Let’s come out of it deeper in God, stronger in spirit!” That’s our prayer for you this month! May you find yourself rooted even more deeply in God, stronger in spirit, embracing the ancient path of walking with God through hard times towards wonderful breakthroughs. In love, John Download the Wild at Heart May 2020 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Let's Seize This Moment!
Well, the world has certainly been shaken. And if we’re honest, we’ve all been shaken a bit, too. Ever since the pandemic broke out (probably the most significant event of our era), the world has been reaching for solid ground—medically, economically, politically, socially. And it has evaded us. We don’t know what recovery will look like, or when it will come. We don’t know about the potential for another “wave” of the virus, or the timing of vaccines. We don’t know what the economy will really do. Uncertainty has been the consistent factor in all of this. It’s almost as if God has kept things veiled, for his own purposes. I wonder what he is up to. Many years ago I was thrown by a horse, and broke both wrists. Both arms in casts. For almost three months, my “normal” was completely taken from me. Opening a door, tying my shoes, feeding myself, driving—it all vanished, in a moment. I couldn't wash my hair, cut my steak, couldn't even open the refrigerator door. It was an upheaval; I was dependent on Stasi in ways I had never been, and the “constraints” I found myself living with were very, very revealing. God used it to expose my radical independence. Oh, I would have told you that I was “dependent on God for everything,” like a good Christian should. But in fact, I was a very self-reliant, insulated, self-determined man, living from independence and calling it maturity. My accident proved to be far less about my wrists, and nearly all about the condition of my soul. Any therapist will tell you, there is nothing like crisis to get people to look at their life and face reality in ways they did not when everything was good. They see how fragile their house of cards really is. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word” (Ps 119:67). Before I broke my wrists I was profoundly independent, more than a little proud of it, insensitive to those with less independence, and doing years of damage to my marriage. My independence shouted to Stasi “I don’t need you.” What a horrible message to send my dear wife. God didn’t throw me off that horse, but I can sure tell you he used it. And I needed him to. Whatever else Jesus is up to right now, this pandemic and all of the political, economic and social upheaval is a “shaking” the world very much needed. And it presents to us an incredible Gospel opportunity...for a window of time. Friends, we in the developed world have enjoyed for years now an unprecedented level of comfort, convenience, and control. Pleasure on demand. With only the effort of a few clicks we could order anything we wanted in the world, and have it delivered to our door. We became connoisseurs of coffee, chocolate, cupcakes. Life on our terms. That little computer in our hands has given us an experience of convenience and control unimaginable to our grandparents. Seriously, when you have an economy that could support specialty stores selling only cupcakes, you have a very comfy culture. That kind of world does not cause people to turn to God; not when they are the masters of their happiness. And so that culture needed to be rocked, thrown from its high horse. People are suddenly aware how fragile life is, how fragile culture, stability and things like jobs, healthcare and retirement accounts are. For this unique moment, millions are searching for solid ground. I'm told that Bible sales have skyrocketed. Online churches are seeing phenomenal attendance. The place on our website seeing the most action has been the prayer to receive Jesus Christ! Isn’t that wonderful?! This is a very exciting moment, so far as Jesus is concerned! And it won’t last. You know human nature. You know that as soon as people are back to their cupcakes, Netflix, and yoga class, they will no longer be wondering about their house of cards. Let’s not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, folks. The most important thing we can do, THE opportunity before the church right now is this Gospel moment. It’s not the “reset” of a slower pace of life; it’s not a change in political leadership. That’s not the main thing in God’s mind. It is the eternal destiny of human souls. I’m embarrassed to admit what the events of the past five weeks have revealed in me. I find myself thinking more about getting back to my normal life than I am praying for the salvation of my neighbors. Honestly, I’m embarrassed how much my thoughts turn to, “Will we lose summer vacation?” Then they turn to, “How is the single woman up the street doing?” Friends of Jesus, let’s seize this moment! Join me in two things: Pray for an outpouring of the revelation of Jesus in the world. Pray for it every day! Pick three people in your world, and begin to pray for them daily, that they come to know Jesus. Maybe an aunt, a neighbor, someone from work. Make this the main thing you are doing with your shelter-at-home period. Because we know this window will not last. The world will probably recover, and people will forget about their need for God. I have so much more to say, but it won’t fit here. Do tune into my April 20th podcast on the pandemic, and what I think Jesus is saying to us! This is our hour, friends! We were made for this very moment! Love, John Download the Wild at Heart April 2020 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Caregivers
One of my beloved daughters-in-law is a nurse. She’d been working one day a week and was going to leave her position as a charge nurse to be home full time with her and my son’s children at the end of March. Instead, in early March, she went from part time to full time—working on whichever floor she is needed most. She was made for this. To serve. To offer. To sacrifice. In the midst of her beautiful and skilled offering, though they live close to us, we don’t get to see her, our son, or our two beloved grandchildren. They expect to get the coronavirus. She is taking Herculean steps to prevent that from happening, but still, they expect it. Even after this calms down and she leaves her position, she and their family will remain quarantined for another two weeks. We don’t know when that will be, and oh, we miss them. We miss them and we diligently pray for them and we regularly stand against the temptation to fear for their lives. I’ve heard from many of you who are in the medical field or whose loved ones are. I’ve heard from one nurse whose fellow nurses circled up at the beginning of this unfolding pandemic, took hands and prayed—saying together, like battle commanders say—with a holy sobriety, “for such a time as this.” This is why I became a nurse. This is why I became a doctor. This. Is. It. Friends, can we pray together for them here? Holy and blessed Trinity, You who never sleep or slumber, you who never tire or fret, you who see all, know all and love all—we lift up to you the caregivers. We lift up to you [name them] and we ask for your protection over their life. We ask for you to strengthen them by your grace. We pray you give them great wisdom, patience, and guidance in their every decision and interaction. Jesus, would you be so very close to them? Breathe on them your breath of Life. May they become even more your intimate friend by walking this road with you. You are their Champion, the one they follow; champion them, Lord, as they fight for the lives of others. Holy Spirit, Comforter, fill them and enable them to accomplish all that you have set before them to do in union with you. May they know to the very core of their being that they are never alone. You are the very source of their life. Fill them to overflowing with every good fruit. May they bring Jesus to those they care for by their very presence. Father, we fervently ask that you place a hedge of protection to surround them and their families that no illness or attack could pass through. We trust you to hold them close. Jesus, we also thank you for your angels. We summon them in the name of Jesus Christ and instruct them to destroy all that is raised against our dear ones, to establish your Kingdom over them, to guard them day and night. We ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for them. We now call forth the Kingdom of God throughout their home, their household, their work and the domain you have given them in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving all glory and honor and thanks to him. In Jesus’ name, amen. God bless you, friends.
Stasi Eldredge
Certainty
Certainty “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46 Though the news changes from day to day and I am concerned for the safety of those I love, Though I have no idea how long the world will feel threatened, and the toilet paper is running out, Though I am steadfast against hoarding, and still feel the pull to gather all I can, Yet, I know… My security rests in you God. Health is not my savior. My bank account is not my rock. Knowing what is coming next is not my safety. Death itself is no longer a threat. For You oh God are my refuge. You are my Life everlasting. You are my promise of provision. You are the source of my security, my hope, my peace. You are faithful. And though I waver, You never do. Though I am shaken, You never are. Though I may fear, You have conquered fear. I can breathe. I breathe in You. I let go of worry. You are my Peace. I am not unsettled. You are settled and have settled me. You Lord are my certainty in uncertain times. You are the bedrock of my life. “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:12 "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
Stasi Eldredge
A Tree Planted by Streams of Water
I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately on a question that seems critical to friends of Jesus in this hour: How does a person live—and thrive—at the end of the age? Every dear follower of Jesus I know, including mature saints, is experiencing a “perfect storm” of busyness, crisis, demand, and dark warfare. They are—I believe we all are—very hard-pressed in this hour. It’s draining; it’s rough on the soul. How do we respond? How do we live in such a unique moment as ours, the folks who very well may see the curtain come down on this age? It’s worth some prayerful reflection, don’t you think? At the same time, I’ve been lingering in, and somewhat captivated by, Psalm 1: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. (Psalm 1:1-4) Two types of people are being contrasted here, two types of human experience. The first is rooted and substantive, flourishing and life-giving. I read about those “trees,” whose lives are evergreen, and I long to be that person whose leaf never withers, whose life is fruitful even in scorching times, and whatever they set themselves to do prospers. Isn’t this the life we all want? Then there is the “chaff” person—so lacking in substance, so shallow and ephemeral, their reality is compared to dandelion puffs that a breath of wind can sweep away. The next crisis, the next piece of bad news simply takes them out. And I kid you not: As I was writing that sentence, my phone rang; a dear ally was calling to reschedule a meeting because he is a financial advisor by profession, and the swirling chaos around the new coronavirus, the stock markets, and world trade has all his clients in total frenzy. This is what I mean. We live in a chaotic moment, and it’s hard on the soul. It’s trying to dry us all into chaff and then blow us away. Psalm 1 got my attention because while I long to be the tree rooted by a river of living water, I find myself pretty “spun-up” at the end of most days. More and more dried out as the “World” sucks me dry. So I looked for the key that separates these two types of human experiences, and I saw that it has to do with our attention. The tree-rooted-by-the-river person is able to meditate—give sustained attention to—their God. Not swipe; not multitask. Lingering focus. The writer Steven Crawford asked, “As our mental lives become more fragmented, what is at stake often seems to be nothing less than the question of whether one can maintain a coherent self...a self that is able to act according to settled purposes and ongoing projects, rather than flitting about.” God’s playful sovereignty dropped in to embellish this letter further in a conversation I had this morning. A Wild at Heart ally was telling me that he has logged 800 minutes on the One Minute Pause App (!). I know, no shame here; I haven’t even logged that myself. What I loved was the story he had to tell. He felt Jesus asking him this year to give Him his attention, simply linger in His presence. He also knew that his busy life and natural drivenness wouldn't make it possible, so he looked here and there for some help and found the One Minute Pause app we created. Now he is that person Psalm 1 describes as rooted by the river, the tree always flourishing. How do we live—and flourish—at the end of the age? We fight for our souls! We push back against the constant assault on our attention! We make deliberate choices to linger in the presence of God. We send our roots down into the river of God! If you haven't downloaded the One Minute Pause app, or if you haven't used it in a while, please do so! It will help you out of the chaos, help you linger in your union with Jesus. It is so healing. Also, I wanted to give a shout-out for the audiobook version of Get Your Life Back. I recorded it myself, so you and I can have a genuine “conversation” around flourishing. I also recorded a good bit of new content only contained in the audiobook. Even my colleagues here at Wild at Heart are saying they are enjoying it more than reading the book itself. It’s another lifeline, another chance to rescue your soul in this trying hour. I pray you will become a tree deeply rooted in the riverbank of the very River of Life itself! Much love, John P.S. One more playful sovereign moment: I was about to send this letter when I got a note from a reader who said, “I heard about your new book but thought it wasn’t for me. Even after Homecoming I thought, ‘I got it.’ Boy, was I wrong! The book has been transformational. I’m freer, lighter, happier. I know what I’m experiencing is how I was designed. Thank you!” Download the Wild at Heart March 2020 newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Peace in the midst of the storm.
We sent this email last Friday to those on our email list. Many of our allies found it immensely helpful, so we are posting it here for further reach. Dear Friends, We are keenly aware that many of you are wondering what the future holds now in this world currently gripped by fears surrounding the coronavirus and the global economic implications. So much to be in prayer about. Stasi and I are going into the studio with Morgan and Cherie today to record a special podcast for our allies in this chaotic moment; it will air next Monday, March 16. Meanwhile, I simply want to remind you of a few basic truths you know in your heart, and have staked your life on: God remains immensely good. The same Jesus who won your trust, and has proven faithful all these years, is still with you now. Your life is in his hands. He has your future, too. God is still in control. Not a sparrow can fall but under the Father's watchful care. He remains the Sovereign Lord, ruler of the heavens and earth. None of this caught him by surprise. Ground yourself in Jesus. The world is reeling; it wants to pull you down with it. Fear and anxiety are more contagious than any virus. This is our chance to shine. Peter tells us to be ready to offer the reason for the hope we have to anyone who asks us (1 Peter 3:15). He's assuming that in times of crisis, the friends of Jesus will be so rooted in him, so grounded in his goodness, that they will have a visibly different reaction to those in the world around them. This is our time to offer hope! Let's pray for peace. Peace over the world; peace over our communities; peace into the chaos. Only in peace will people react well, make good decisions, find their faith. Peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27) As for grounding ourselves in God, we are marveling at the timing Jesus had in having us create and release the One Minute Pause App, which many people are reporting is a rescue in this mad hour. It is a beautiful, simple, daily way to bring your attention - and your emotions - back to Jesus. People are wondering how to help children and families with anxiety and fear. There is no help greater than grounding ourselves in the presence of God! In fact, just today, I got this note from an ally of ours... "Thank you, thank you, thank you! The One Minute Pause app has been a rescue. I work in health care with a vulnerable population who is at high risk of the COVID-19. The One Minute Pause app has allowed me to reset, re-center and give it all to God. What a relief. Spread love, not germs." I love that. Let's spread love—and peace—not germs! Use the Pause App to continually re-center yourself in Jesus and his provision. His goodness. It's available free in the app store. And share the One Minute Pause App with everyone you know! Spread the love and peace of Jesus! Love you all. Jesus is still Lord. John PS. Join me each Tuesday in March at 6:00pm Mountain Time for a Facebook live update on living well, rooted in God, during these days.
John Eldredge
We simply must take care of our souls.
Dear Friends, January was such a whirlwind, and so much information is always rushing at us, I thought it would be kinder to send a “January/February” newsletter. (The world has grown absurdly complicated, most people's lives are jammed already, so I want these letters to be oases, not more noise.) Really—this world we live in is constantly assaulting our souls. The pace of life, the complexity, the lack of any real margin, the tsunami of information and technology bombarding our attention, the heartbreak of the world. (And all the little chirps, beeps and vibrations that announce something new has come in.) The soul was never meant to process, navigate, or carry this much. I’ve said it before but it needs repeating: This mad world requires a soul that is strong, resilient, rooted in God. And yet, this mad world is perfectly designed to prevent your soul from being strong, resilient, rooted in God. That’s called a double-bind. It’s what we’re all struggling with. We need more of God. We want a soulful life. But we can’t find it, because of the chaos swirling around us, and in us. About a year and a half ago I suddenly woke to the facts: I was asking my soul to live at the speed of a smartphone. And that’s really unkind, because the soul is not a smartphone, and was never meant to live like one. I began to seek Jesus for some practical changes to my life—simple changes I could sustain—which would help me recover my soul, my humanity, recover my life in God. And I’m very glad to report that it’s working; it’s helping. As I began to share some of the things I was learning, I noticed how quickly it helped my friends, too. I had a beautiful conversation with a man just last week, whose role is to provide care for a number of missionaries in the South Pacific and Asia. He wanted to report that he and his wife had been learning what I call “Benevolent Detachment,” the grace of truly giving everything over to God. "This has been a rescue for us," he explained. "We've been carrying everyone, and it has been crushing us. Your teaching has changed our lives and rescued our mission. Really." Not two days later I received an email from another beautiful soul who is deeply involved in missions in a dangerous country I can’t name here. There was an accident; people were killed. He was writing to say that the practices I had been sharing were pulling him out of the trauma and back to God. I wept for joy and gratitude. And so it is with enormous happiness and excitement I can announce to you that I put everything I learned in a book, and that book comes out in about a week! It’s called Get Your Life Back - everyday practices for a world gone mad. A step-by-step report on the graces God taught me to recover my own soul in this crazy hour, and how to embrace these helps for yourself. Benevolent Detachment is chapter two; it's also the centerpiece of the One Minute Pause app we created to help folks with the practice. Learning to take simple pauses in your day to catch your breath, give it all back to Jesus and restore your union with him. (You can download it for free in the app store!) And there is so much more! God saturated our world with oxygen because we need it, every moment of our lives. He’s done the same with water—no one can live without it, so our planet is filled with water. Then I realized God did the same thing with Beauty—our world is absolutely saturated with Beauty, intimate and epic. From morning sunlight to drops of water on a windowpane, the song of birds, the laughter of a child, the intricate lace pattern of leaves. Beauty heals the soul; beauty especially addresses trauma. But so few people take it in. We might see it if we’re not rushing; but we merely observe, and think to ourselves, That’s lovely, and get on with our day. I want to teach you how to receive it into your soul for healing. I also want to share the grace of Transitions—learning to allow your soul some room between things. We cram our soul through a number of gear changes every day (every hour). We go from a tender conversation with our child scared about school, to a business meeting, to a call about our parent’s memory care unit, to the news about a friend’s passing, to a phone call haggling with our insurance agency. No wonder we don't know what to say when someone asks us, “How are you?” We don’t know. We’re blowing through life so fast our soul was lost long ago. There is a better way. I think Get Your Life Back could have the impact of Wild at Heart, one of those game-changing books so healing and refreshing people talk about for a long time. That’s my hope anyways! There’s an audiobook, which I recorded because I know many people don't have the time to read but love to use audiobooks as they exercise or commute. There’s a small group curriculum and guide too so that you can gather with friends and explore the recovery of your souls together. This is a brutal hour to live in, friends. We simply must take care of our souls. I hope you’ll pick up a copy or two of the book–one for you, and one for someone you love. Offered in love, John PS. Our current podcast series is focussing on some of the practices from the book. I think you’ll love listening in! Download the Wild at Heart January/February 2020 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
The Invasion Worked
December 2019 Dear Friends and Allies, A very Merry Christmastide to you all! This letter comes with love and blessings from our whole team! Now, I know this is a ridiculously busy time of year for most of us. We take our already hurried lives, with so much going on, so much pulling at us, and we pile on the various pressures and obligations of the holidays. Like a camel, already carrying a maximum load, asked to bear a few more packages and pick up its pace for the last few miles. Mercy. So I’m going to be kind, and keep this letter brief. Because what you need is solace, and a moment’s sanity—not more media coming your way. Pause, and let it all go. What’s yet to be done, the news you just received, the disappointment you already feel creeping in, the fact that you’re behind on nearly everything. Just pause, and let it go. And now, ask God for a greater measure of his love in you, a greater measure of his life in you. For the supernatural grace you need for the holidays...and afterwards. All I want to do today is to remind you that it worked. The invasion worked. The Incarnation worked. The entire plan worked. Jesus came. He overthrew the kingdom of darkness. He rescued you from sin and evil and this mad world. He has restored you to your Father. He is healing your humanity. Your future is utterly secure now...and breathtaking. We celebrate our rescue. We celebrate our homecoming. We celebrate the fact that the Second Coming is just around the corner, and he will come, just as surely as he did the first time when nobody thought it would happen. O, it will happen...and soon. The best news in any story, ever. So, Merry Christmas dear ones! We look forward to walking with you in 2020. Love, John PS. I hope you get a chance to listen to our Christmas podcasts the weeks of December 16 and 23. There’s a special blessing for you during Christmas week I think you’ll enjoy. And it’s a short one, like this letter. Download the Wild at Heart December 2019.
John Eldredge
Wild at Heart Turns 20!
A very happy beginning of the holiday season to you! I pray it’s filled with love and goodness from your God who adores you. Hey guess what—Wild at Heart turns 20 in December! Holy Cow! On the one hand, it’s hard to believe—where did the time go? On the other hand, it is completely believable; we’ve spent a lot of years at the “front” and we’ve seen SO MUCH redemption in the lives of...well...probably millions to be honest. Which is a really holy thing to think about. It all began with The Sacred Romance—the revelation that your heart matters to God, that we live in a Love Story set in a world at War. That your story matters to God. It has been a massive paradigm shift for many. Wild at Heart and Captivating soon followed—the revelation that gender matters, that God loves your feminine heart, your masculine heart, and he is restoring us as men and women. Which has brought such deep healing to millions all around the world. And so we are giving thanks for the favor of God on this beautiful work. Giving thanks for you, our friends, for partnering with us to rescue so many lives. What an incredible story this is! Speaking of giving, we have a really cool gift for you. Over the past eighteen months many of these letters have been devoted to counsel and encouragement on how to take care of your heart and soul in this mad world. (Not an easy thing to do, as you well know.) The pace of life has everyone spinning. The inundation of information and technology is assaulting our attention every moment of every day. And then there's the heartache of those we love and the world at large which we must gently navigate. If you've been listening to the podcast you’ve heard my new opening recently: “This is a gnarly time to be a human being. And God cares about your humanity…” So here's what we've done—we've developed an app called the One Minute Pause, a sanctuary in the chaos, a lifeline in the stormy seas, allowing us to pause and re-center in Jesus wherever we are in our day. Our team has been practicing this for about a year. It’s been so incredibly restorative that we want to share it with as many people as possible The Pause is built around three simple practices: Benevolent Detachment, by which we practice 1 Peter 5:7. “Cast all your cares upon Him, because he cares for you.” Learning to let it all go. Learning a loving release of everyone and everything to Jesus. So that our hearts can come up for air. Union with God, which is the deepest and greatest thing our human nature was created for. In John 17, Jesus prayed that we would be one with him in the same way that he is one with his Father. “One as We Are One” (vs 22). The mad world assaults our union with God on a regular basis, and so we need help restoring it daily. Union with God is what enables us to receive all of the resources of his strength and life in us. Being Filled, as Ephesians 3:19 promises, “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Asking for more of God, to fill more of us. The app is now available for iPhone and Android. You can get it for FREE in the App Store and on Google Play. Look for the One Minute Pause by Wild at Heart. Then share it with everyone you know! Your soul will thank you every day. The world has changed so much even in the twenty years since we began this mission. 1999 was a time of profound gender confusion. By 2019 we have seen a complete gender collapse in the culture. Trauma is on the rise; the need to heal human hearts is greater than ever. And so we are planning for the next twenty years. God is moving us to bring our message to a new generation, and to push even further into every country on this broken planet. We have some exciting plans… We are working to get Basic and Core—our Wild at Heart and Captivating retreats by video—into a dozen foreign languages. We are planning a major campaign to grow our podcast audience. Jesus is moving us to “represent” our core messages to a new generation with some new creative film projects. And lots more! We are a supporter-funded mission, as you know. We don’t beg or borrow; we don’t create “crises” every month to move folks to help us. We simply reach out to you, our friends, and let you know we have a need. We need to raise 50% of our budget here at the end of the year. Which sounds to me like a lot of money, until I remember how faithful God has been every single year for the last two decades. Every year he provides exactly what we need. We have never gone into debt. You have always come through! We are very excited about our future. We feel as though God has been discipling us, maturing us, teaching us, so that we might be ready for the “more” he has...expanding the already stunning influence of Wild at Heart. He has our “yes!” We are planning for a brilliant future. But we do need your help. We need your prayers. Really. We want you to partner with us in projects like Basic and Core, bringing healing to men and women in your communities. And we need your financial support. Would you pray, and ask Jesus what he’d have you do? I completely trust him with what he says. Thank you friends. We are so profoundly thankful for you! Love, John Download the Wild at Heart November Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
A Shield Against Hatred
September/October 2019 Dear Friends, You did not miss my September newsletter, in case you were wondering. Life remains insanely busy—for all of us—and I simply didn’t have the time to write something meaningful. To tell the tale more accurately, I had no margin left after all of September's demands, and I chose not to force myself to do what we all typically do: find a slim piece of sacred space reserved for something else, and use it to cram more work in. Choosing not to is called kindness or wisdom or soul care or survival in a mad hour. Slowly, surely, I am learning. So here we are in October, and we’ll call this our September/October letter, for I do have something I want to share with you, something I think will prove immensely helpful in this moment we call our time, our hour upon the earth. It comes from the first epistle of the Apostle John. I was drawn to the letter for many reasons, but mostly by this verse: “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16) I know I need a deeper life in God; I certainly need more of God in me. Because of this mad hour. I want to live, abide, make my home in God, and I want him to thoroughly saturate me. So this verse got my attention, because John is showing us the actual path into that life. As I got into the letter, reading it through several times, I realized John was writing at a time very much like our own. The theme of the letter is regarding the battle between death and life, darkness and light, hatred and love, foul spirits, untrustworthy people—and how lovers of Jesus navigate such a situation. (Sound familiar?) John was writing at a time which he and the other apostles (including Paul) believed was very near the end of the age: Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. (2:18) Let me quickly point out that these authors wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We can assume they were not mistaken or deluded. I realize that nearly 2,000 years have gone by, and it is easy to dismiss John’s assessment by thinking, “Well...he wasn’t exactly right; I mean, it wasn't the last hour because so much time has transpired since then.” There is another, humbler, way to consider it: If the closest disciples of Jesus and the leaders of the church believed it was the “last hour” or the “end of the age,” then perhaps we are living in the last few seconds, the last fleeting moments. Which I believe we are. However you slice it, John was writing to those who follow Jesus and find themselves living in a very dark time. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (5:8) He focuses the spiritual battle around his disciples as the contest between love and hatred: For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (3:11-15) I have written in the past that I believe Hatred is a major force rampaging on the earth today. Not just human hatred, though that is enough to wreak destruction. I am speaking of demonic hatred, foul spirits of hatred that do find cooperative human beings and get them to carry out things like bombings and such. But you don’t have to be in the direct or indirect path of terrorists to be under the wrath of Hatred. Jesus himself told us, “You will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9). What I want to put into your hands is an awareness of how real Hatred’s presence is on the earth—especially against the saints. The evil one hates you, hates your love of Jesus, and hates and envies your position of favor and blessing. Jesus has given us a shield, a power, and a way of disarming this in our lives. That power is the Love of God. The secret weapon is Love. “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (4:16). Here at Wild at Heart we have found that praying—commanding—the Love of God as a shield against all Hatred in this hour is a wonderful, wonderful provision of God for getting out from under this darkness. What I mean is something very direct and deliberate, like this: I bring the Love of God the Father, the Love of Jesus Christ, the Love of the Holy Spirit over my heart and over my life today, over my home and family [name them], over my household and domain. I command the Love of God to fill and shield my household and domain. I command the Love of God against all Hatred set against us—Love as our shield against Hatred in this hour. I command this in the name of Jesus Christ. Try it for a few days...you’ll see. The effects are wonderful. I simply wanted to extend that relief to you. Love, John Download the Wild at Heart September/October Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
The Gift of Memory
Well, summer is nearly past, though I hate to admit it. The neighborhood kids are all back to school. Our team here has returned from their family vacations. The local pool closes on Labor Day. Our grocer no longer has watermelon. But I’m eating peaches every day, ripe summer peaches, because I know that soon they too will vanish for a whole year. I love summer peaches. Summer passes way too soon, before we’ve really had a chance to relish the gifts of it. I didn’t get the time with my grandchildren I hoped for; Stasi and I didn’t get to our beloved Tetons, either. I always enter summer with higher hopes than can possibly be met. Lest we despair, God has given us a grace to rescue our hearts when lovely moments pass too quickly, or when we haven’t had the chance to get the Sabbath we need. This grace is found in a surprising practice. But before I name it, we need to be honest about this common occurrence of loss so near to us, so constant we’ve grown completely numb to it. It is our inability to make time stand still. And we can’t do it, not even for a moment. No sooner have we stepped into some wonderful life experience—a birthday, a wedding, that Christmas morning when you were six years old and the pond had frozen and you got your first pair of skates—but in the next breath it is completely swept away in the unceasing river of time, swept far downstream and out of reach. Every precious moment will suddenly be last week, last month, last year before you can blink. Few of us remember the taste of our first ice cream (what flavor was it?), the first book we read ourselves, our first kiss. We can barely recall that vacation we planned for so many years; it was over in mere weeks. I name this loss because it is loss—tragic, sweeping, and expansive. Your entire life, every dear moment, is currently being swept downstream from you even as you read this sentence. It does such harm to the soul, and our life with God. “All good things come to an end.” I hate that phrase, hate it like the sound of sirens, or dirt falling on a casket. To rescue us from despair, God has given us “a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). To be specific, it includes the restoration of every precious day of our lives. But I wrote more fully about that in a book called All Things New, so I will only mention it here. All good things do NOT come to an end. Not even close. In the meantime, God in his mercy has also given us a grace for this recurrent, incessant, unavoidable, daily experience of loss, and that gift is memory. Through which—if we make use of it—we can go back and drink more deeply, savor, take in the full gift of wonderful moments great and small. (For the full gift can never be taken in during the moment.) I was in-between errands yesterday, between picking up some groceries and getting a tire replaced. The temptation was to grab my phone (this is what we all do now, without even thinking) and scroll through news, posts, messages, my inbox. But that wasn’t what my soul needed, and I knew it. My soul needed summer; it needed joy and happiness. I needed to choose not to just surrender to the mad pace of life, but to go back and drink more deeply of a sweet gift of summer that passed too quickly. I set my phone down, and let my heart go back to a day on a creek I loved. It was high in the mountains, in an evergreen forest. The stream was cascading down in fall after fall, filling the canyon with the wonderful rushing sounds of roiling waters. There were small pools now and then where trout lived, and I snuck up on them and caught a few. But mostly I just hiked, and drank it all in, sat by the waters and dunked my sore feet in their bracing iciness. As soon as I began to remember this day, this gift, my heart settled down. I let out a deep sigh. I was aware of the goodness of God again. Thank you for this day, I whispered in prayer. Thank you for this sweet gift. I was seeing again so much goodness in it—the butterflies, the smell of damp moss, the contrast of hot day and cool forest by the stream. I remembered how tired I was—not stress tired, but that healthy been-in-nature-all-day tired. What a wonderful gift it was. And the beautiful thing is, more of the gift came to me through this intentional practice of memory. I could go back, linger, enjoy it again. Memory allows us to savor the many gifts God has given. I suggest you establish a practice of it. (Here’s a redemptive use of your phone—it’s a library of memories in photos. Pull out your phone during a break, but instead of checking the newsfeed, browse your photos, let them take you back into precious moments. Linger there, savor the gift.) Hope this brings you a kind of rescue as we say goodbye to summer. Love, John PS. By the way, this letter is more fully unpacked in a new book I have coming out in February called Get Your Life Back – everyday practices for a world gone mad. I think you’re going to love it! Download the Wild at Heart August 2019 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge
Paul Lavelle: A Hero for the Kingdom
So much of what is cool about Wild at Heart is the ministry that spins off of what Wild at Heart does. In the spirit of that, I want to tell a story about Paul Lavelle, who attended a Wild at Heart Boot Camp some 15 years ago—as an unbeliever, skeptical of Christianity. (As a matter of fact, Paul showed bias against believers in his career in the Air Force.) He only came to make good on a promise to a friend, and he committed to stay for just half of the event. As he was literally getting up to leave, the film clip being played on stage stopped Paul in his tracks—it was an echo of his personal story. The remainder of the boot camp brought Christ into Paul’s life, and his transformation began. Paul had just retired from a disciplined and successful career in the USAF that ended at the Pentagon. Because Paul had moved to Colorado Springs, we were able to get acquainted, and we at Wild at Heart were so intrigued by the transformation of his heart that we asked him to come and help fulfill resources at our Outpost. Paul’s transformation was at such a fast pace that he became part of our team and came to boot camps as part of the team. I recall one boot camp where I partnered with Paul to pray for men stuck in their seats following the wound session. That’s where we discovered that Paul has an anointed gift of intercessory prayer and hearing the Holy Spirit. I vividly remember how, as we approached men—many weeping, but our not knowing anything about them—Paul would hear from the Holy Spirit and make a very specific statement about their story that would astound not only the man we were praying for but me as well. This happened time and time again. Over the various boot camps we did here in the U.S. and overseas, Paul’s presence began to attract military veterans as well as those currently serving. I remember a group of former Navy SEALs who had lost several of their peer SEALs on a mission in South America years before and were still dealing with the trauma. They came seeking healing. In addition to what they received at boot camp, Paul spoke deeply into these men, praying for them one-on-one, bringing Jesus in the place of their need. As Paul continued to interact with veterans and military men, word began to spread among this group about our boot camps and Paul’s connection with these men because of his own military background. For two years, Paul served with Wild at Heart in our resource department. But what became obvious was his giftedness in relating to men who are serving or have served in the military. We all saw that Paul’s staying at Wild at Heart would impose a limitation on his gifting, and so we urged him to step into what he was called to do. In obedience to God, he did just that, birthing what has grown into the most effective ministry dealing with PTSD in all branches of the service. Operation Restored Warrior (ORW) has rescued thousands of men who otherwise would likely have ended their lives from the deep depression of PTSD. Tannah and I recently attended the tenth anniversary of ORW, where I met many of the men rescued by Jesus through Paul and his team. Every man I spoke with would say they owe their life to Paul, as suicide was their next and final remedy in search of relief. Paul and his team do an intensive every month where they pour into the stories of six attendees for five days. ORW has engaged over 1600 men, either veterans or active military, through their Drop Zone. As we have all heard from various sources, between 20 and 25 of these PTSD veterans are ending their lives every day; Paul has labored tirelessly to rescue these men from the darkness of suicide. The urgency is similar to watching a burning building full of men, and you can only save a handful. Paul is a true hero of the Kingdom, and we are honored to have played a part in Paul’s spiritual journey. This is one of the great stories of Wild at Heart! [Paul and ORW were featured in a documentary called Holy Ghost Reborn.]
Bart Hansen
The Care of Our Hearts
Warm summer greetings to you! (Maybe a bit too warm in some places!) I hope this letter finds you well, enjoying some of the glories of summer. Evenings on the porch. A walk in the park or woods. Popsicles. Fireflies. Pool time. What’s on my heart this month…is the care of our hearts. You know we regularly circle back around to the heart. That’s because nothing in this world encourages you to care for your heart. The world has gone mad, and so someone has to be that voice in the wilderness. I’m happy to. But more importantly, I feel God’s heart for you, his deep concern for your wholeheartedness. I’m just hearing too many stories of solid lovers of God who suddenly seem to unravel. Divorces in mature couples, anxiety disorders popping up out of nowhere, heartache, and way too many suicides. I lost a dear friend to that darkness last week. A terrible reminder that it is dangerous to leave unhealed places in your soul unattended, especially in this hour. I think this is one of the reasons we were given the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. The story is told in Matthew and Luke, but let me remind you of the basics: Following his baptism, at the start of his three-year public mission, Jesus is led into the wilderness for forty days of fasting. Satan comes looking for an angle on him, some vulnerability, some point of access. Given what he tries, he seems to have some idea of what might work with this man Jesus—Do miracles; reveal yourself; rule the world. Things Jesus is poised to do, but only in the Father’s timing and way. So the testing doesn't work, but I think we miss a critical piece of the story at the end. It reports that afterwards, angels came and ministered to Jesus: “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:11) Jesus needed ministering to. Now, this is the Son of the Living God. The Prince of Life. Majestic. Powerful beyond description. He created all angelic beings. Satan is no match for him. But being tested by the enemy was so awful, Jesus needed help afterwards. Wow. It helps us realize—to be tested by the enemy is a really awful thing. Jesus passed the test, because as he later says in John, the enemy has “no hold on me,” or in another translation, "he has nothing in me" (John 14:30 NIV, NASB). Jesus is wholehearted, and therefore the enemy can’t find any access to trap, snare, deceive, or take him out. The rest of us, however, are broken people, at various points in our healing journey. Our humanity has many rifts in it, sometimes very deep rifts, and those provide the enemy with access. Through testing, and cunning observation of us, he finds those chinks, those cracks, and he strikes there. Now remember—to be tested is awful without the rift in the soul. With the rift, it's brutal and often results in some serious collapse. This explains the high-level ministry scandals we are all familiar with. It also helps to explain the breakdown of otherwise very good people. Jesus insists we take our restoration and wholeheartedness seriously because we are all unfinished men and women; we each have rifts in the soul, and those areas are where the enemy aims his most brutal attacks. We want to get to the place, through the healing ministry of Jesus in us and our ongoing discipleship to him, that we are strong and well whatever comes our way. “Like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3). I long to be that flourishing tree. I know you do, too, so let me ask… What are you currently doing to pursue wholeheartedness, your internal restoration? If you don’t have a fresh answer, ask Jesus what he has for you this summer in the direction of wholeheartedness. Personally, he told Stasi and me to use our vacation time for very simple soul care—daily walks, quiet rest, prayer, good books, and beauty. Still waters and quiet meadows, so he may restore our souls (Psalm 23:2-3). We have to participate in the process. Just about everything we do at Wild at Heart is designed to help you, God’s dear friends, towards wholeheartedness—through intimacy with Jesus and life in his Kingdom. (I hope you had a chance to hear our recent podcasts—the Warfare series in May; Rest, Suffering, and Play in June; and now Hearing God in July!) Thousands upon thousands of people around the globe are reporting stories of breathtaking rescue. Despite the dark hour, lives are being healed, saved, restored. I’m hoping you might be able to help us carry on with this glorious mission. A few times a year, I reach out and remind you that we are a nonprofit, and it is your gifts that help us bring the ministry of Jesus to so many precious souls. Our reach continues to expand across the world because of your love and generosity. Would you be able to make a gift this month? Large or small, every measure of support helps! You can give online at www.ransomedheart.com, or use the enclosed envelope. There just aren’t that many voices in this mad world guiding people gently into intimacy with Jesus, reminding them how much their hearts matter, showing the way towards wholeheartedness and lives of restored resilience. Thank you for being our allies and partners, for helping us carry on! And do take care of the treasure of your heart this summer. Follow Jesus into what he has specifically for you. Love, John Download the Wild at Heart July 2019 Newsletter here.
John Eldredge