Oct 08 2024 60 mins
Summary:
*Constance discusses her book, "The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away," which explores controversial topics related to faith and encourages readers to reflect on their beliefs and understanding of Jesus.
*The conversation delves into themes such as understanding God's role in suffering, the transformative power of faith, and the importance of maintaining a relationship with God despite doubts and challenges.
*Constance shares personal anecdotes to illustrate her journey of faith, including experiences that reinforced her belief in God's presence and guidance through difficult times.
*The discussion touches on contemporary issues like the deconstruction of faith and contrasts the world's view of love and tolerance with the unconditional love of God.
*The importance of engaging in respectful conversations about faith with skeptics or doubters is emphasized, with Constance suggesting that her book can serve as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and spiritual exploration.
Podcast Intro:
My guest, is author, Constance Hastings, who has recently written a book titled "The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away." I think you can tell by the title that we poked around in some pretty weighty specifics on faith, skepticism, and how we make sense of the world. The reason I wanted to have this conversation because suffering will have you contemplating the plan to leave your faith. If you find yourself if a place of skepticism because the pain is too great and you it simply does not match your definition of what a good God would do, take some time to listen to all that Constance has to share.
Constance talks about her personal growth with the Christian faith and she also shared examples of her journey and the moments in her life where she felt God's presence most profoundly.
One story she shared was about a time when she felt abandoned—not just by people, but by God. She described a church retreat where, somehow, she was left behind as everyone else packed up and left the area the group had been visiting. Alone and angry, she journeyed down the rock road and finds herself standing in front of an unusually large stop sign…with the wind whipping through the night air she continues demanding answers from God. And then something remarkable happened: a sense of peace washed over her, and the Holy Spirit reminds her spirit that she is not alone…for me, it’s always that marker of peace in the midst of struggle that reminds us of God’s presence. When she was finally reunited with the group, she knew the experience had changed her. The first-hand experience of not only God attending to her on a dark road, all alone. But feeling His presence evaporated those moments of vulnerability and hard questions and drew her into a deeper intimacy with Christ.
Listening to Constance's stories made me reflect on my own life and those moments when I've felt life's troubles weighing heavily on me. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that we need to have all the answers or we need to be in control of the outcome. But as Constance pointed out, the real beauty is revealed when we let go of the need to control everything and allow ourselves to be open to the possibility of transformation. Her words reminded me that faith isn't about having everything figured out; it's about trusting that in the midst of our struggles, we're never truly alone. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed, have the courage to discover who God really is vs who you think He should be—pause, engage the heart of God, and remember that the love and answers that you're seeking is already available, He’s just waiting for you to notice and lean in to His great love for you.
Live loved and thrive! @alifeofthrive.com
Related Podcast Topics on having hope and growing faith when you want to give up:
Here’s How Psalm 23 Showed Me God’s Faithfulness w/Sherrie Pilkington: https://alifeofthrive.com/2022/08/17/heres-how-psalm-23-showed-me-gods-faithfulness/
Finding Hope in the Ashes w/Lea Turner: https://alifeofthrive.com/2024/09/25/finding-hope-in-the-ashes-with-lea-turner/
Blog Post - Life Verse: https://alifeofthrive.com/2021/09/07/life-verse/
Connect with Constance:
Link to purchase the book: The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away
https://amazon.com/author/constancehastings
Substack: https://jesustrouble.substack.com
Blog: https://constancehastings.com The Trouble with Jesus blog
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/constance-hastings-0969a7136
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/@cm_hastings
Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheTroublewithJesus
Bio:
I did not intend to write a book about Jesus. I did not believe I would ever join any church. I never thought I would be involved in formal church ministry as ordained clergy. My life should have been my own, teaching the literature I loved and having a life to enjoy my simple hobbies and family. But the Trouble with Jesus is God does not let us walk away, but instead pursues us until we find ourselves found. I was very good arguing with God, wanting my own direction and expecting it to be blessed. Didn't happen. With gentle nudges and a Holy Spirit grab around the throat, God has taken me through a life-journey to places and people I would have never known except by God's plan. Not the path I ever wanted, but the one I was given. Thank God.
Constance Hastings brings an outsider’s perspective to what insiders know about the story of Jesus. Raised by non-religious parents, educated in a Christian school; lover of great literature, teacher of the disadvantaged; ordained in a mainline denomination, mental health counselor outside the church; she aims to make connections speaking in new places the old voices of meaning. With an edgy voice recognized by those caught in an existential dilemma, for those who have never or not been in church for a long time, for those who used to think they knew him, Constance Hastings confronts your concept of one of the most controversial figures whoever existed and the trouble Jesus means.