As Is

While we spent a few days at the beach last week, a much needed vacation for our family, I finished another book, Finding Spiritual Whitespace- Awakening Your Soul to Rest by Bonnie Gray.

The book is uniquely written with a weaving in and out of the author's personal story which draws you in to uncover your own spiritual whitespace. Each chapter ends with thought provoking questions, mingled with a tease for the next chapter.

As you join Gray on her journey through her healing from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you find your own story unfolding as you push through the pages. She helps you discover what real soul rest is, guiding you into deep soul conversations with Jesus, as you bring your weary soul to Him...as is.


The phrase, as is, struck a chord deep inside me. I know Christians struggle.  I struggle. Many times I come boldly before the throne of Jesus Christ with a grateful heart, bringing praise and petitions into His presence. But there are also times when my soul is struggling for rest. Sometimes, I'm just a puddle of a mess lying at the feet of Jesus.

I've learned to come to Him...

As is.

As is is not always pretty.  Many times as is is messed up, hurt, frustrated, angry, sad, disappointed, anxious, depressed, etc. That's what is so beautiful about the way Gray approaches the spiritual whitespace in our lives. The whitespace is where Jesus meets with us, talks with us, and transfigures us.

Whitespace on a canvas is what makes art pop. It causes our eyes to focus on the image to be seen. If there's not enough whitespace, the image gets lost in the clutter. It's too busy, jumbled; too hard to focus.

Gray says, "Life is organic. It's not always plastic, shiny, and perfect. Life changes like the seasons... Rest comes from awakening our hearts to fully open up in our relationship with Jesus." (Finding Spiritual Whitespace, Pg. 212)

A Christian lives a life that is always changing with the Person of Jesus Christ who is always the same. When the two come together, the organic begins the transformation process; taking on the steady, unchanging, glorious image of Jesus Christ.

Our spiritual whitespace is where we intimately connect with the Person of Jesus Christ. If our lives are cluttered with stuff, distractions, and busyness, we haven't made room for the whitespace - the space where Jesus can really go to work through His Word and the Holy Spirit; the space where we have soul conversations with the Savior, the conversations that literally change our lives, renew our minds, and rest our souls.

This book has challenged me to look for and make more room for spiritual whitespace. As I take full advantage of the transforming process, my life will pop with what people need to focus on - Jesus!

The whitespace is where Jesus is whispering distinctly your name and mine to come...with our stuff, our clutter, our baggage, our burdens, our lives, and lay it ALL at His feet...

As is. 

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV)

My Pleasure,
Melanie