Alia Joy is an author who believes the darkness is illuminated when we grasp each other’s hand and walk into the night together. She writes poignantly about her life with bipolar disorder as well as grief, faith, marriage, poverty, race, embodiment, and keeping fluent in the language of hope.
IF YOU HAVE EVER QUESTIONED THE ROLE OF WEAKNESS RELATED TO YOUR DREAM, THIS WAS THE EPISODE FOR YOU.
God’s power is made perfect in your weakness. We know the Bible verse, but most of us would rather run from weakness than embrace it. Years ago, Alia might have told you the same. She never expected to write a book about weakness, nor did she expect to wrestle with mental illness, but this journey has put her on a path to be a voice for the hurting, the broken, and the lonely. Her new book Glorious Weakness: Discovering God in All We Lack is meeting people in their place of need and giving them hope that they are not alone.
There were so many incredible (and challenging) takeaways from this conversation with Alia. First, she offers a gentle reminder that sometimes our dreams don’t include a checklist of things to do. In fact, we should probably question whether results are really the point of any dream. Is God asking you for results or is He asking you for obedience?
Alia provides an excellent biblical reminder not to fret, worry about, or covet what someone else has. This is especially true when you encounter others who are pursuing a dream that feels very similar to yours. Guess what? That’s not about you. If you feel you can celebrate someone who has a similar dream, then do so. But if you can’t without fretting, then unfollow, scroll past, and ask God to help you let go of those feelings.
In this episode, you’ll also discover the value of finding a quiet place to release the noise of the world. Alia talks about how there can be too much of a good thing (like reading all the books or, for me, attending every last webinar so I can make up for what I think I lack in knowledge).
If you’re currently feeling alone in your struggles or the pursuit of your God-shaped dream, I promise you, you’re not! I hope you’ll join us over in the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group and get to know some fellow dreamers. We’d love to meet and encourage you toward Christ.
MORE ABOUT ALIA:
Sushi is her love language and she balances her cynical idealism with humor and awkward pauses. She lives in Central Oregon with her husband, her tiny Asian mother, her three kids, a dog, a bunny, and a bunch of chickens.
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CONNECT WITH ALIA:
Website || Blog-The Fluency of Hope || Twitter || Instagram || Facebook
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MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Alia’s Book:
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Scripture:
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (ESV)
Do not fret over doers of evil;
do not envy those who do wrong.
For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender plants.
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in Him, and He will do it.
~ Psalm 37:1-5 (BSB)
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