Another new resource I am reading lately is a book by James Bryan Smith, protege of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. His book, “The Good and Beautiful God,” provides a guide for small groups and communities to discuss who God is and how we relate to God in our present seasons of life. I was struck by the following introductory words by Smith – he is pointing in the direction that I have been moving for some time, which is deepened dependence on God and a more honest acceptance of my own limitations:

“What are you seeking? Would you like to have abiding peace? Would you like to have a heart that is filled with love? Would you like to have the kind of faith that sees everything – even your failures and losses – in light of God’s governance for good? Would you like to have the kind of hope that endures even in discouraging circumstances? …

A lot of people want to change and would answer yes to these questions, but many of them do not believe it is possible. After years of trying and failing, they lead a Christian life of quiet desperation, longing for change and yet uncertain it will ever happen…. I used to think that way. I tried and tried to change. I prayed and prayed, pleading with God, begging God to change me. All to no avail…. When I looked into my own heart, I discovered that I not only did not love my enemies, I didn’t even love some of my friends, and I worried about everything.

Change came when, through two gifted mentors, I learned that transformation happens through training my soul… The problem is not that we do not want to change, nor is the problem that we are not trying to change. The problem is that we are not training. We have not been taught a reliable process for transformation….”