This is part of my year-long series exploring human-centered alternatives to the spiritual promises in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest. Today’s entry, “Come with Me”, promises that disciples can learn to “abide in Jesus” in any condition, receiving a spiritual “new name” that completely erases pride and self-sufficiency, with Jesus making his permanent dwelling with those who let him “be everything.”
Here’s a different approach:
When Marcus started attending the men’s Bible study at his church, the leader taught from this passage about spending time with Jesus and receiving a “new name” that would erase pride and transform character. “Let Jesus be everything,” Pastor Williams urged. “Abide in him constantly, and he’ll give you a new identity that replaces your old self-sufficient nature.”
Marcus embraced this teaching enthusiastically. He spent daily time in prayer and Bible study, believing Jesus was writing a new spiritual identity over his natural tendencies toward anger and impatience. For weeks, he felt transformed—more patient with his wife, calmer with his teenage son, less reactive to stress at work.
But when his company announced layoffs and Marcus’s department was eliminated, his spiritual “new name” seemed to vanish. He erupted at his boss, snapped at his family, and spent evenings drinking beer and watching TV instead of reading scripture. The promised permanent transformation felt like a cruel joke.
Meanwhile, his neighbor Carlos was dealing with his own job loss through a different approach. Instead of seeking spiritual identity change, Carlos worked with a therapist to develop better emotional regulation skills. He learned practical techniques for managing stress and anger—breathing exercises, cognitive reframing, regular exercise, and honest communication about his fears.
Carlos didn’t claim to have a new name or transformed nature. He simply acknowledged that job loss triggered his anxiety and worked to develop healthier responses. He joined a job seekers’ support group where people shared practical strategies and emotional support. He updated his resume, practiced interview skills, and networked systematically.
When Marcus watched Carlos handle unemployment with consistent calm and purpose, he felt ashamed of his own spiritual failure. His pastor suggested that Marcus needed to “abide more fully” and “make fewer excuses,” implying that his struggles revealed insufficient surrender to Jesus.
Eventually, Marcus realized that his attempts to maintain a spiritual identity had prevented him from learning practical emotional skills. Carlos hadn’t erased his natural personality but had developed tools to manage it effectively. His steadiness came not from divine transformation but from acquired wisdom about how to navigate difficult circumstances.
Marcus began attending the same support group as Carlos. Instead of trying to abide in Jesus constantly, he learned to abide with his actual emotions while developing healthier ways to express them. His “new name” wasn’t spiritually granted but practically earned through learning better life skills.
Reflection Question: When has learning practical emotional skills been more helpful than seeking spiritual transformation of character?
This story is part of my upcoming book “The Undevoted: Daily Departures from Divine Dependence,” which offers 365 human-centered alternatives to the spiritual certainties in Chambers’ devotional. Each day explores how reason, community, and human resilience can address life’s challenges without requiring divine intervention.
God or Delusion? 