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, “Get a Move On”, promises that believers can “construct, with patience and determination, a way of thinking that is exactly in line with” Jesus, achieving the same “inner abiding that was never disturbed” through bringing “every thought into captivity” and learning to “abide in Jesus” in all circumstances.
Here’s a different approach:
When Rachel’s husband was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58, her pastor urged her to “abide in Jesus” through the crisis. “Construct a way of thinking in line with Christ,” he advised. “Bring every anxious thought into captivity. God wants you to have the same inner serenity Jesus had, accepting whatever circumstances the Father chooses for you.”
Rachel tried desperately to achieve this promised spiritual serenity. She spent hours in prayer, attempting to “abide in Jesus” while managing doctor appointments, legal paperwork, and her husband’s increasing confusion. She forced herself to accept their circumstances as God’s will, believing that anxiety revealed a lack of faith.
But the promised inner peace never came. Rachel found herself constantly agitated, grieving the loss of their future plans, terrified of the financial implications, and overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities. Her attempts to “bring every thought into captivity” only created additional pressure to maintain a spiritual composure she couldn’t achieve.
Meanwhile, her neighbor Linda faced her own family crisis when her teenage daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Instead of seeking spiritual serenity, Linda educated herself about mental health. She joined a support group for families affected by bipolar disorder, learning practical strategies from other parents who understood the unique challenges.
Linda didn’t try to construct Christ-like thinking or achieve undisturbed inner abiding. She acknowledged her fears, sought professional guidance, and developed realistic expectations for managing her daughter’s condition. She learned about medication compliance, warning signs of episodes, and how to create a stable home environment.
The “acceptance” Linda achieved wasn’t spiritual submission to divine circumstances but informed understanding of her daughter’s medical condition. Her openness came not from abiding in Jesus but from honest conversations with her daughter, her therapist, and other families navigating similar challenges.
When Rachel observed Linda’s practical approach, she realized that her attempts to achieve spiritual serenity had prevented her from accessing helpful resources. She joined an Alzheimer’s caregivers support group, where she found people who understood her fears without expecting her to transform them through spiritual discipline.
Rachel discovered that “abiding” in her actual circumstances—with all their difficulty and uncertainty—was more helpful than trying to abide in an idealized spiritual state. The peace she eventually found came not from undisturbed inner communion but from practical knowledge, community support, and accepting her human limitations rather than striving for Christ-like serenity.
Reflection Question: When has accepting your actual emotional responses been more helpful than trying to achieve spiritual serenity through disciplined thinking?
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? 