About

This week Chelsey sat down with Alisha Illian to dive into a deep conversation of living surrendered to the Lord and pursuing Christ's heart in a world that desires to distract us with living for ourselves.Alisha is a wife, mom, founder of Women (re)Purposed, author of Chasing Perfect: Peace and Purpose in the Exhausting Pursuit of Something Better, and she loves equipping women with biblical truth and hope for their day-to-day struggles.  1) Tell us a little about you!Two years ago I moved from Dallas, TX back to my hometown of Wichita, Kanas with my husband of 14 years and our three, high-octane kids who are 8,10, and 12. We are the in the golden years — the are old enough to rides their own bikes on family bike rides, but no hormonal rollercoaster rides yet. My kids are big into sports and extracurricular activities. Even when we just do one sport per child....it gets busy fast. MOST CHALLENGING PART of ministry and family life. NOT BALANCE, BUT JUGGLING.I’ve been in women’s ministry both at home and in the local church for the past 20 years. Currently the founder and director for Women rePurposed, a ministry that God planted in my heart a couple of years ago and is just now launching with a full team this summer.WRP MISSION: Encouraging and Equipping Women to Love God, Learn Truth, and Live Transformed 2) I am really excited to dive into this conversation today - I’d love to start with this. Your book is titled, “Chasing Perfect”. Can you give a quick run down of the book and then share where this message came from in your own life. What changed/shifted/conviction did you feel on your heart from the Lord?Chasing Perfect: Peace and Purpose in the Exhausting Pursuit of Something Better. Authors often write books, not because they have it all figured out or have perfectly overcome a struggle, but they have learned to STRUGGLE WELL.Not all women would probably consider themselves “perfectionists”, wanting all dishes put away, beds made and counters immaculate. I certainly don’t! But many of us are constantly seeking the next best thing or reaching for something better in order to feel content.We are chasing after so many things — satisfaction in our jobs, happiness in our homes, a great tribe of friends, and a beautiful body. THE PERFECT PLAN, CONTROL, IDENTITY.I honestly believe that the most socially acceptable idols of our day IS ACHIEVEMENT — the continual desire to be great or better. I would add...to be in control. The pandemic and state of our world right now has made that painfully clear. We are looking for an answer. So we strive to be better, do better, find better, live better in an attempt to manage, tidy, and control the outcomes of our lives.BUT GOD ISN’T ASKING US FOR TIDY LIVES, BUT TRANSFORMED LIVES. HE CALLS US TO PERFECTION, BUT NOT THE PERFECTION THAT WE CAN ATTAIN, BUT THE PERFECTION THAT HE PROVIDES.“Be perfect as I am perfect.” Matthew 5:48The NT Greek idea of “perfect” here ‘TE-LE-AS’ is less about doing everything just right AND WITHOUT FLAW as the English word describes it and more about living into your purpose and identity we were designed and called to ... “being brought to it’s end, complete and mature”NOT A COMMAND TO ETHICAL EQUALITY WITH GOD, BUT THE COMMAND TO IMITATE AND REFLECT GOD. WHICH IS WHY JAMES 1:2-4 IS SO POWERFUL WHEN IT SAYS TO “COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU MEET TRIALS OF VARIOUS KINDS, FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES STEADFASTNESS. AND LET STEADFASTNESS HAVE ITS FULL EFFECT THAT YOU MAY BE “PERFECT” AND COMPLETE, LACKING IN NOTHING.”We are called to aim for increasing holiness and sanctification. He wants us to grow. But through Him and for him and in him. We aren’t chasing perfection in ourselves or for ourselves.“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:1-3The more I studied the scripture on this idea of “perfection” and contentment, the more I realized that the desire is not wrong. But, In fact, it may be intentional, part of how God created us.The problem is that, in my life, I often had and still often do, chase the wrong things. We were made to chase Jesus. 3) The idol of self has blazed a trail in our world and taken the Lord off of the throne of our hearts. Where do you see this being most destructive and where in scripture would you take someone as they are trying to move away from this way of living?It saddens me that so many books, and supposedly Christian authors anchor their messages on self-determination and personal fulfillment. That true hope and purpose is found in “fulfilling your potential”. They may have large followings, but they fail to tell you WHO you should really follow and that the meaningful life is not found in self-empowerment, but the surrender of self to God’s power and provision.Rachel Hollis - was on New York Times best seller list 46 weeks, sold over 3 million copies, 1.6 million followers. Her books are flying off the shelf and women are listening and admire her. Says a lot about our culture. HUSTLE CULTURE trend - started when a very popular book was released “Girl, wash your face.” This book was released by a Christian publisher, but is more of a motivational and self-help book with a little Jesus sprinkled in. But the idea of the message and this authors message is that YOU CONTROL YOUR OWN HAPPINESS AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS LIVING INTO YOUR BEST SELF POSSIBLE. YOU CONTROL YOUR HAPPINESS AND DESTINY.THE MANTRA ... LIVE INTO YOUR POTENTIAL. SO, you need to constantly chase your “ideal self”. You can take active steps to be happy and fulfilled. Definitely a self- help type message. You are in control of your fulfillment in life. Although some of these things can be helpful, we can’t expect to find soul peace and purpose outside of God. According to this author — “lost” means living into other people’s expectations of yourself and not your own. Ultimate happiness is living into your own potential!! (How you look, how much money you have, how you feel about yourself) the posture is rooted in the here and now! Almost a “chasing of your ideal self” that is her idea of heaven. The mantra is ... “Just try harder!”You are your own Savior!It seems like culture (and even Christian subculture) is really BUYING INTO THIS IDEA OF THE “GOSPEL OF SELF” — it’s everywhereITS HONESTLY EXHAUSTING TO BE FORCED TO BELIEVE THAT I AM ENOUGH AND THAT MY HAPPINESS IS DEPENDENT ON ME. DEEP DOWN INSIDE I KNOW I’M NOT ENOUGH.And the Bible says I’m not enough. - In Romans it says that I am a sinner. In Eph 2 it says that I am dead in my sins. In Is 64:6 it says that my good works are like filthy rags. We have to get the diagnosis right before we can accept the cure. If we think we are good and able and capable, we will never accept God’s remedy. The endless chase for hope and purpose will go no where and in the wrong direction.Self is not the answer. It’s the problem.The Gospel is the answer, the good news. Jesus perfection for me. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 For. 5:21I needed reminded that the GOSPEL changes everything. In my struggles, insecurities, anxieties ... I need to settle my mind and heart in the hope of the gospel. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30The “yoke” was a visual of the harness that was used for sen to get them to pull a cart or farming equipment. One yoke for two oxen. The yoke of Jesus was his teaching ... the gospel. The Jews of Jesus day were living under the heavy weight of the law, trying to earn favor with God through adherence to over 600 laws and many extra laws that were merely tradition. This was exhausting. Jesus way was light because it wasn’t dependent on their efforts that were futile, but on his sufficiency. Anytime we look inward to find hope and peace, we pick up our heavy yoke.It’s so easy to start feeling frazzled and discontent when the source of our hope comes from ourselves...how we measure up, how we perform, how we compare. It’s exhausting. We will never be ENOUGH. We are the problem, so we can’t also be the solution. We know we aren’t enough, so when the world or even the Christian sub-culture tells us that we are, we get disheartened.But Jesus is enough, his perfection is enough. He is our hope...not the number on the scale, your spouses mood, your ability to accomplish or impress. Sure, we are called to put forth effort in life, steward our bodies, gifts, and passions, but the point is .... Our acceptance and identity can’t be dependent on those things. We work from a place of acceptance, not for a place of acceptance. That is life-giving and liberating.And let’s not forget that the gospel message transforms or should transformed every aspect of our lives. Because of the grace of God, we can forgive others, live in the freedom that we are found worthy on the merit of Jesus, not our performance. We can extend grace to others in the same way. Because of Jesus, we don’t need to find our significance in our significant other, our waist line or even our ability to handle every situation perfectly. The gospel gives us hope outside of ourselves or our uncertain circumcstances, so when we walk in obedience, aiming to live into the “teleas” or perfect completion, we are not fighting for hope and peace, we are living in and from his provision and purpose.  4) Self-help doesn’t work, the blood of Christ is what saves. You have the quote that went wild on the internet, "You can eat all the kale, buy all the things, lift all the weights, take all the trips, trash all that doesn't spark joy, wash your face and hustle like mad, but if you don't rest your soul in Jesus, you'll never find peace and purpose.” I’ve seen so many women caught in the trap of “self-help” culture. How would you steward someone away from this lie and to the truth of God’s Word?THE IRONY IS THAT THE SELF-HELP GOSPEL ISN’T HELPING OURSELF— ...We think we are STRIVING FOR ACHIEVEMENT, POWER, OR POPULARITY. What WE ARE really AFTER is JOY, PEACE, PURPOSE, SATISFACTION, LOVE, CONTROL .... JESUS!We don’t need transformed out of our idols of success, being better, having more, comfort, control, etc. .... We needed transformed out of our DISBELIEF AND DISTRUST.Ultimately, WE don’t believe he is enough. We don’t trust him. The kingdom of God says ... Surrender self ... not this idea of promotion of self or focus on self. Surrender is required for soul peace.NLT “If you cling to your life, you will lose it. If you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matt 10:39To bear fruit (the fruit of what we are all after — joy, peace, purpose, etc) we must “die” to ourself. John 12:24 (unless the kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed ... it won’t produce abundant life)The worship of God, the centrality of God in our lives, not self, is the life-giving well that will bear much fruit.THE GREATEST SELF-CARE IS SOUL CARE. THE GREATEST WAY TO LOVE YOURSELF (OR HELP YOURSELF) IS TO LOSE YOURSELF. 5) Submission to God’s will is difficult for all of us at some point. What has this looked like for you - where in your life did you see surrender to the Lord needed to happen most?I’ve always struggled with wanting to control the outcomes. Jesus said to cast my cares on him. I liked that idea, as long as I didn’t cast them so far that I couldn’t manage them. HE KNEW I HAD A CONTROL PROBLEM. Knowing that, he allowed me to experience and struggle through a condition that would affect the part of the nervous system that we have no control over and with no real clear control over or answer to what it would turn into or how to manage it. I now have temperature control issues, twitching muscles, heart rate/BP. My hands shake ... but my heart no longer does.“If dependence is the goal, weakness is the advantage.”But anything that makes us lean on him and turn to his word for truth, security, and hope is a blessing.C.S. Lewis said this ... “Pain makes us put away our toys”In our struggles we tend to turn away from ourselves, our insufficiency, our entertainment and turn toward the ETERNAL, the sufficient. We cling to the steady and immovable.It was this season that I realized I was chasing my own sufficiency and control over Jesus for happiness. My joy was dependent on circumstances, not his presence.But ... every day is A daily decision to trust God. SOMETIMES HIS DELIVERANCE ISN’T TO TAKE US OUT OR REMOVE US FROM THE DIFFICULTY. HIS DELIVERANCE IS HIS PRESENCE. 6) This makes me want to address the beloved verse Jer 29:11, many in the world even love this. Though many disregard that this is a call to submission, not a promise to have what we want, when we want it, with no pain in life. I’d love to heart from you, how have you seen God draw you in through the “plans and provisions” He’s had for you that were NEVER what you thought it would look like?The 3 most important aspects of good Bible study is ....CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT. We have to read scripture in light of the immediate context of what is happening and the big story of scripture if we want to properly interpret. This particular verse is frequently plucked out of context to convey this idea that God will only give us a pleasant and prosperous life....according to world standards. That feels nice. It seems so uplifting. But God was actually giving a promise to his people ISRAEL (who were going to be exiled to Babylon and have their nation and temple destroyed). It was a specific promise that they would return to the land in 70 years. See verse 10. This was a re-assurance that God would not forsake them.So the primary application is not for us today. BUT we can apply it as a general principle of God’s consistent character, his grace and affection for those he loves, including us...his daughters! For us, in Christ, he has promised that our sins are forgiven, we stand before God justified (Jesus perfection as ours), and will work all things together for our good ... even the trials and difficulties of life. (Romans 5:5, Romans 8:31-39).So, as I walk this out ... I’m daily deciding to trust him. It’s easy to trust him with my soul, it’s harder to trust him with my life. With my chronic neurological condition, with my marriage, my family, my ministry. Sometimes God is quiet.He asks me to trust him in the middle moments, when I do the things that don’t get immediately recognized or appreciated. He wants me to walk in step with the spirit, yielding to him instead of controlling and micromanaging every aspect of my day or planning out every step. I’m learning that often his plan isn’t this specific “thing”, but his will is daily dependence and surrender.Will I turn to the world’s answer and solution or trust God and his plan, even if it means that the answer may not come or the promise for good may not be realized until I see him face to face and the world is renewed and restored? 7) I ask all my guest this -T he Living With Less Podcast was birthed from John 3:30, “He must increase, I must decrease.” If someone asked you what they needed to begin living with less of what would you tell them and why?First, can I just say that that is my favorite verse in the Bible. It’s actually my life verse. My pastor preached on John 3 last week and talked about JTB. John said these final worlds as a response to his disciples who were frustrated at the greater success of Jesus disciples. What humility to realize that it wasn’t about him! His efforts were always just a response and desire to make much of Jesus. I read the book, “The Voice of Prophet” by A.W. Tozer last month and he talks about how God will use the man (or woman) with whom his glory is most safe.This was a mic drop moment for me as I considered how so often I don’t think God’s glory is safe with me. I want the glory. I want applause. I care about what people think, if they like me and approve.I want to live with less of me — concern for acceptance, approval and applause. I want to live for the praise and love of Jesus. I want him to lifted, glorified and increased.And here’s the crazy thing, the more I live for him, surrender to his will, and willing to lose my life ... the more hope, joy, purpose and freedom I will find. We were never meant to chase perfection, but chase the Perfect one. In him alone and for his glory alone will we find what we are looking for and rest for our souls. Connect with Alisha:www.womenrepurposed.comOrder Chasing Perfect HERE!@womenrepurposed  - Instagram@alishaillian - Instagram