Finding Hope and Faith in Unbroken Stories
Summary
In our lives, we are both authors and participants in a grand narrative that we do not fully control. While we have the agency to choose our responses and actions, the overarching story is in God's hands. By surrendering to God and actively engaging with life, we can connect our broken stories to a larger narrative filled with hope and redemption. This is exemplified in the life of Etty Hillesum, a young Dutch Jewish woman during World War II, whose story is a testament to resilience and faith amidst unimaginable adversity.
Etty's diary, written during the Nazi occupation of Holland, reveals her inner life, her relationships, and her spiritual journey. Despite the oppressive circumstances, she found a way to see the dignity and worth in others, even those marked by the yellow star. Her writings, filled with honesty and vividness, became a powerful testament to the human spirit. Etty's story is a reminder that even in the darkest times, our stories can be a source of blessing and hope for others.
Etty's journey with God was unconventional, yet deeply profound. She learned to pray in the most unlikely of circumstances, finding solace and strength in her faith. Her prayers were not for herself but for others, and she sought to be a balm for the wounds of those around her. Her life became an uninterrupted dialogue with God, filled with gratitude and adoration. Even in the face of death, Etty's faith remained unshaken, and her final words were a testament to her unwavering spirit.
Etty's story challenges us to see beyond our circumstances and to trust in a God who is always present, even in the midst of suffering. Her life reminds us that our stories, no matter how interrupted, are never beyond the reach of God. We are called to never give up, to continue writing our stories with faith and hope, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
Key Takeaways:
1. Surrender and Agency: While we have the power to choose our actions, the larger narrative of our lives is in God's hands. By surrendering to God, we can connect our broken stories to a greater story of redemption and hope. [01:19]
2. Seeing Dignity in Others: Etty Hillesum's ability to see the dignity and worth in others, even in the darkest times, challenges us to look beyond external circumstances and recognize the inherent value in every person. [04:00]
3. Unconventional Faith: Etty's spiritual journey was marked by unconventional practices, yet her deep connection with God shows that faith transcends traditional boundaries and can flourish in unexpected ways. [06:15]
4. Prayer as a Dialogue: Etty's life became an uninterrupted dialogue with God, filled with gratitude and adoration. Her prayers were not for herself but for others, demonstrating the power of selfless intercession. [08:22]
5. Resilience in Adversity: Etty's unwavering faith and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity remind us that our stories, no matter how interrupted, are never beyond the reach of God. We are called to never give up. [11:11]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - Writing Our Stories
[01:19] - Surrendering to God
[01:51] - Introduction to Etty Hillesum
[02:41] - Etty's Diary and Inner Life
[03:26] - Etty's Connection with God
[04:00] - Seeing Dignity in Others
[04:28] - The Power of Story
[05:14] - Etty's Spiritual Journey
[06:33] - Learning to Pray
[07:14] - Etty's Confession and Psalm 63
[08:05] - Dialogue with God
[08:54] - Acts of Compassion
[09:31] - Final Journey and Legacy
[10:21] - Etty's Last Words
[11:11] - Never Beyond God's Reach
[11:29] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 63:5-6 - "My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed and meditate on you in the watches of the night."
2. Matthew 5:44 - "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
3. Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
---
Observation Questions:
1. How does Etty Hillesum's story illustrate the concept of surrendering to a larger narrative beyond our control? [01:19]
2. What specific actions did Etty take to see the dignity and worth in others, even during the oppressive circumstances of the Nazi occupation? [04:00]
3. In what ways did Etty's prayers reflect a selfless intercession for others rather than focusing on her own needs? [08:22]
4. How did Etty's faith and resilience manifest in her actions and writings during her time in the Nazi transit camp? [09:31]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Etty's ability to see dignity in others challenge our own perceptions of people we encounter in difficult circumstances? [04:00]
2. In what ways does Etty's unconventional faith journey, including her learning to pray in unexpected ways, expand our understanding of how faith can be expressed? [06:15]
3. How does Etty's story of resilience and unwavering faith in adversity inspire us to view our own life challenges? [11:11]
4. What does Etty's life teach us about the power of story to bring hope and blessing to others, even in the darkest times? [05:01]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your life story was interrupted. How did you respond, and how might Etty's example encourage you to connect your story to a larger narrative of hope? [11:11]
2. Consider someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you practice seeing their inherent dignity and worth this week, as Etty did? [04:00]
3. Etty's prayers were often for others. Identify one person you can pray for this week, focusing on their needs rather than your own. [08:22]
4. Etty found ways to express her faith in unconventional circumstances. What is one unconventional way you can express your faith this week? [06:15]
5. Etty's story reminds us to never give up. What is one area of your life where you feel like giving up, and how can you find strength to persevere? [04:28]
6. Etty's life was an uninterrupted dialogue with God. How can you incorporate more moments of gratitude and adoration into your daily routine? [08:22]
7. Think of a story from your life that could bring hope to others. How can you share this story in a way that blesses and encourages those around you? [05:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Surrendering to a Greater Narrative
In our lives, we often find ourselves trying to control every aspect of our journey. However, the sermon reminds us that while we have the agency to choose our actions, the larger narrative of our lives is in God's hands. By surrendering to God, we can connect our broken stories to a greater story of redemption and hope. This surrender is not about giving up but about trusting in a divine plan that is beyond our understanding. It is about acknowledging that our lives are part of a grand narrative that God is weaving, and by aligning our will with His, we can find peace and purpose. [01:19]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would it look like to trust Him with this area today?
Day 2: Recognizing the Inherent Worth in Others
Etty Hillesum's story challenges us to see the dignity and worth in others, even in the darkest times. Despite the oppressive circumstances of the Nazi occupation, Etty found a way to see the inherent value in every person, even those marked by the yellow star. This perspective calls us to look beyond external circumstances and recognize the inherent value in every person we encounter. It is a reminder that every individual is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with respect and love. [04:00]
James 3:9-10 (ESV): "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so."
Reflection: Think of someone you encounter regularly who you find difficult to appreciate. How can you begin to see and affirm their inherent worth today?
Day 3: Embracing Unconventional Paths to Faith
Etty's spiritual journey was marked by unconventional practices, yet her deep connection with God shows that faith transcends traditional boundaries and can flourish in unexpected ways. Her story encourages us to embrace our unique spiritual journeys and to seek God in ways that resonate with our personal experiences and circumstances. It reminds us that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to faith, and that God meets us where we are, inviting us into a relationship that is as unique as we are. [06:15]
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"
Reflection: What unconventional practice or habit could you incorporate into your spiritual life this week to deepen your connection with God?
Day 4: Engaging in Selfless Prayer
Etty's life became an uninterrupted dialogue with God, filled with gratitude and adoration. Her prayers were not for herself but for others, demonstrating the power of selfless intercession. This aspect of her story invites us to shift the focus of our prayers from our own needs to the needs of others, trusting that God is aware of our circumstances and will provide for us as we care for those around us. It is a call to engage in prayer as an act of love and service, lifting up those who are in need of God's grace and mercy. [08:22]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can commit to praying for this week? How can you make their needs a priority in your prayer time?
Day 5: Finding Resilience in Faith
Etty's unwavering faith and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity remind us that our stories, no matter how interrupted, are never beyond the reach of God. Her life is a testament to the power of faith to sustain us through the darkest times. We are called to never give up, to continue writing our stories with faith and hope, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. This resilience is not about denying the reality of our struggles but about finding strength in the assurance that God is present and active in our lives. [11:11]
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge or adversity you have faced. How can you draw on your faith to find resilience and hope in this situation?
Quotes
then cuz the truth is on the one hand we're all writing our stories but none of us is in charge of our stories um I have the agency to be able to decide how I will respond to life and how I will take action and what I'm able to create and innovate but I am not God I don't get to decide my story and yet somehow in partnering with God in surrendering to God with a full active initiative taking deeply uh God trusting uh approach to life it is possible to enter into to connect my broken story with a larger story that has the hope of redemption [00:44:32]
as of April 29th 1942 all Dutch Jews are required to wear a yellow star on their outer garment the quote unquote Jew star it is an ancient practice in Europe mandated by the Pope in the 13th century and maintained in some form by civil and religious authorities until the 18th century when Frederick William I of Prussia abolished the practice for anyone who could pay approximately $75,000 in current money now near the midpoint of the 20th century that old requirement has found a young woman who lives in South Amsterdam her name is Eddie hillison for nearly six months she's been keeping a diary in which she records the most intimate details of her inner life her friendships her loves the worsening social and political situation in Holland [02:00:00]
she writes in her diary where she takes this part of her mission in life because she's a very gifted writer to notice to see people sometimes people wearing the yellow star and has a vision of golden Radiance of seeing the dignity and the worth of that person and recording it if I forget you Jerusalem the psalmist says may my right hand lose its cunning and she takes onto herself the ministry of not forgetting on the day when she writes one of the most powerful of these kind of Visions she also writes these words never give up now this may be God's word to you today never give up never Escape take everything in and perhaps suffer that's not too awful either but never never give up [03:52:00]
Eddie makes a promise to herself and the world I shall wield this slender fountain pen as if it were a hammer and my words will have to be so many Hammer Strokes with which to beat out the story of Our Fate her country Holland is taken over by the Nazis and she begins to read the Psalms and the Old Testament and Augustine and the gospel of Matthew and begins to find God the Living God she does it all the wrong way she is taught how to pray by two men both of whom are her lovers now that can't work um and when I read about that and then you read some of her prayers they will just make You Weep [05:03:00]
from her first faltering impulse to kneel on the mat in her bathroom she finds a place for kneeling everywhere in her house eventually she will fight it in the barracks of a detention Camp because that's where she ends up she could have uh sought to escape from the Nazis and many of her friends try to get her to do this but something inside her as she is moving towards God impels her not to do this but to identify with people and she volunteers to go from Amsterdam to westerbork which is a kind of a Nazi Transit Center over and over and over to be with people she Styles herself the girl who learned to pray and plans to write a story about it from a Nazi Transit Camp [06:31:00]
you have made me so rich oh God please let me share out your beauty with Open Hands this from a Nazi Transit Camp my life has become an uninterrupted dialogue with you God one great dialogue sometimes when I stand in some corner of the camp my feet planted on your Earth my eyes raised toward your Heaven tears run down my face tears of deep emotion and gratitude at night too when I lie on my bed and rest in you oh God tears of gratitude run down my face and that is my prayer most of her prayers are prayers of adoration and she does not pray for herself but for others ultimately at her lowest points she ask that her life become a pray [07:41:00]
her desire to be of help to God causes her to be of help to people she sees a a young paralyzed girl with enormous eyes who is having a a hard time dying and helps her to die she smuggles food to people or clothes to people or medicine to people or stands by people to pray for them she sees it all and takes it all in so that she can also feel it for people she calls herself the thinking heart of the barracks the last sentence of her diary reads we should be willing to act as a balm for all wounds [08:48:00]
Eddie Hillis her parents and her two brothers were unexpectedly selected themselves for transport to aitz in The disbled Scrambled to collect a few things for the journey they were separated into different wagons in haste Eddie scribbled a postcard and tossed it from the window of a moving train her final words it said opening the Bible at random I find this the Lord is my high tower and then in a last ecstatic gesture of what can only be guessed at she adds we left the camp singing we left the camp to be sent to aitz singing it is her letter to the world a farmer found it and mailed it to the Amsterdam address [09:35:00]
such a person lived and w Walked In Hell on Earth with God that was her story everybody has a story our stories often get interrupted but they are never beyond the reach of God you are never beyond the reach of God today whatever your story and however it has been interrupted never never never never give up [10:57:00]
this series is all about stories everybody has a story and everybody's story matters and we want to know about your story whether it's a story of coming to Faith or a story of spiritual growth whatever it is we're here for you you can email that to us at connect at become.com or you can text it to us you can also sign up for daily reminders whenever we drop a new video via text by texting the word become to the number [11:36:00]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jun 27, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?