Lisa Whittle

{w}hole: Heather’s Story

Dec 07

This month on Wednesdays, I will feature some stories behind the readers of {w}hole.  Today, I honor the story of Heather Conrad.  Hers is a story of fear, struggle and eventual acceptance and trust.  You can read more about Heather at the end of the post.  But for now…here are her own words.  May they mean something to you, today, on your own journey to wholeness.

What makes a good story?  I used to think that a bit of drama, a good climax, and a feel-good resolution all entered into the equation.  In light of my journey with Christ, I often fell captive to the comparison game.  My story held none of the flashy drama that I heard time and time, again. I believed that if I could be what people needed me to be — if I worked hard enough– God would be pleased and I would earn his favor.  Instead, all I felt was exhausted, and I fell short of what I thought people needed me to be.

In her book, {w}hole, Lisa Whittle writes, “God seeks our dependence upon Him to make us whole.” Over the course of several years, my heart, mind, and soul have found this to be true.  For years of my life, I was dependent on myself – my observations, my experiences, and my knowledge.  I fell in love with the concept of God, but never really read His words to know more about Him.  As a result, I wasn’t able to enter into a relationship with Him.  I had a faith, but no foundation.

Without this foundation, I walked in bondage, everyday.  I was held captive by my fears.  I had a fear that people would not like the true me.  Because of this belief, I honed the skill of masking.  I allowed roles to define me.  Labels that people had given me over the years became the clothes I donned every morning. Again, I was comfortable in the act of works, yet I grew tired. I felt empty.  I had holes.

Lisa writes in {w}hole, “There may be no greater gift to give another than to admit that our journey has not been perfect, as the struggles of our life unite us far more than our successes ever will.” I agree wholeheartedly.  I’m learning the freedom to simply be me, the unique individual that God has perfectly fashioned.  Honestly, it’s so peaceful.  It’s so refreshing to have released the pressure that came along with meeting my own unattainable standards — one of missing my own marks.

The greatest privilege in life is to share in my shortcomings, my failures, and my sins, for it is where God shines in the darkness.  Therein lies the freedom that He offers.  There lies the burdens we were never meant to carry.  In return, peace abides. If we can release, if we surrender… there is hope.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” {Hebrews 10:23}

Heather Conrad grew up as the eldest child of 5 in a small, suburban town of Cleveland.  She is married to her best friend of 14 years, and together they share the joy of raising three daily-growing children, one boy and two girls.  Currently living in a suburb of Columbus, she holds a degree in Deaf Education and enjoyed her five years in the field. With a craving for consistency, she is learning the beauty of flexing to plan b, c, and even z. God has given her a passion for running and a joy in leaning into His daily plan.

Heather’s BLOG. Heather’s Facebook. Heather on Twitter:@heatherlconrad.

*Can you relate to Heather’s story? If so, leave her a comment, here.  {Thank you, Heather, for having the courage to share your heart.}

*To read more from {w}hole, download a FREE chapter one, find questions for discussion, and to order, click HERE.

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