Lisa Whittle | Showing Up vs. Shutting Down | 148

Showing Up vs. Shutting Down with Lisa Whittle

Lisa Whittle | Showing Up vs. Shutting Down

Lisa Whittle is the author of eight books, and her wit and bold bottom-line approach have made her a sought-after Bible teacher. She is also the creator of a companion video Bible study for Jesus over Everything.

A pastor’s daughter and longtime ministry leader in issues relevant to the church, Lisa is the founder of Ministry Strong and the popular Jesus over Everything podcast, which debuted in the top 25 of Christian podcasts.

Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy.

Lisa has done master’s work in marriage and family counseling, advocated for Compassion International, and been featured on numerous media outlets through the years.

She and her family live in North Carolina.

Lisa Whittle joins Amber to discuss Lisa’s new book, The Hard Good, showing up when you want to shut down, and being used by God.

Questions Lisa and Amber Discuss About Showing Up vs. Shutting Down:

  1. (4:40) Your new book, The Hard Good, comes from a place of grief and learning to journey with Jesus in the midst of it instead of shutting down.  Will you set the stage a bit and share how you came to know Jesus and what life was like for you growing up as a pastor’s kid?
  2. (7:02) The temptation to shut down became very real to you when you saw another man wearing your father’s cowboy hat.  In that moment and as the book has developed over time, what did you learn about actively choosing to show up even though there was pain involved?
  3. (12:49) Let’s talk about our idolatry of feelings. Emotions are not a bad thing, but too often they become the boss of us. How can we use them as a gauge?
  4. (21:00) I constantly hear people say, “What is my purpose?” Or “I am praying for God to show me my purpose.” This is a hot button for me and you speak directly to it.  As a Christian, what is our purpose?
  5. (21:00) In light of that purpose, how can we maximize our usability?
  6. (27:15) I am going to share some chapter titles from The Hard Good and I want you to share a thought or piece of advice that comes to mind
    1. Accepting Something You Wish Were Something Different
    2. Cheering For Someone When They Get What You Want
    3. Showing Up When You Want to Shut Down
    4. Opening Up Your Heart Again When It’s Been Hurt
    5. Welcoming Change
  7. (31:16) As we close out, you have written a Bible Study that goes along with The Hard Good.  What can one expect from the study?

Showing Up vs. Shutting Down Quotes to Remember:

“The Lord in His goodness allowed me to show up. It still is a miracle to me how this happened, because I just paused and in my own spirit, I prayed, ‘God help me.’ And that night, after a full day…I did cry myself to sleep, but I deferred that emotion. I realized that I have the power through God to be able to do that and it gave me a new kind of confidence that my emotions don’t have to overrun me.”

“The Lord is so gracious to give us what we need and what we ask, but I would say you are selling yourself way short, if you want just the rescue Jesus.”

“Our purpose as Christians is very clear, it’s in Matthew 28. It is the same for every believer and I love the fact that it is the same for everyone so that no one feels like they’re more special… It is to go and make disciples.”

“If you know that the Lord has called you to make disciples, then what you have to figure out is with my gifting and with my particular circumstance, what does that look like [in my daily life].”

“God is the one you need to trust to hold your heart when You don’t trust anyone else to hold it. And when they’ve mishandled it, you can trust God to hold it.”

“The most important thing I’ve learned about change is that if you do not welcome it in, you will be overcome by the sadness of it.”

Scripture References

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The most important thing I've learned about change: If you do not welcome it in, you will be overcome by the sadness of it.
The Lord in His goodness allowed me to show up....And that night, after a full day...I did cry myself to sleep, but I deferred that emotion. I realized that I have the power through God to be able to do that and it gave me a new kind of confidence that my emotions don't have to overrun me.

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