Susan Narjala
Keeping it Real
50 Shades of Grey. Like Actually.
Um, no, I haven’t read the book or watched the unsavory movie which inspired the title of this blog post. But I have been trying to choose the “perfect” grey for an accent wall in my living room. Something striking, but not overly dramatic. Modern, but also warm. A grey that is not “muddy” but is still “earthy.” In the process of picking out the color, I’ve even learned a new word: greige—evidently, that’s grey with strong beige undertones.
My husband left for a business trip and trusted me with picking the colors for our repaint But what ensued has been a lot of self-doubt and waffling. Who knew choosing paint could be so annoyingly stressful?
Yet, we make more decisions daily than there are shades of grey in a color catalogue. Decisions that have far-reaching consequences as compared to wall paint.
Which university should I go to?
Should I quit my job and look for another one?
Who has God chosen to be my spouse?
Should we buy this house or wait?
Which church should I join?
Should we move out of this city?
Do I start this small business?
I’m not here to tell you how to find God’s will in any of those decisions. There are enough books, podcasts, and resources—not to mention the Word and the Spirit—to help you with that.
I’m simply led to remind us of the daily practice of abiding in Christ—which makes decisions far less stressful and overwhelming.
In John 15:4, Jesus says to the disciples (and us): “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”
When we remain/ dwell/ live daily in God’s Word and in His presence, the why, the how, and even the what-ifs of our decisions are shaped by His redemptive grace.
The why of our decisions becomes about glorifying Jesus.
The how of living out those decisions is rooted in dependence on Him.
And the what-ifs and doubts turn into even-ifs and peace because we trust that He works all things out for those who love Him.
Friend, when we’re at the crossroads of life, we’re often tempted to resort to the “flip-and-point” technique—we thumb through the Bible to find quick-fix solutions. Yet, the call on our lives is not to utilize God but to abide in Him.
The Greek word for abide in John 15 is menō, which means taking permanent residence, not just visiting. It is about maintaining a deeply-rooted, unbroken connection with Him.
When we abide in Him, our options look less daunting because of where we dwell.
When we abide in Him, we worry less about decisions because we learn to wait well.
When we abide in Him, we don’t give in to pressures because we trust His pruning.
When we abide in Him, He promises that we will be fruitful, even if our decisions don’t seem successful.
What does “abiding” look like, practically speaking?
It comes back to the disciplines of pursuing God’s heart rather than His hand: reading the Word, prayer, fasting, seeking solitude, and serving community. Those daily decisions lay the foundation of a rooted life in Jesus.
Friend, I don’t know if you’re facing a decision right now. But I do know that now is the best time to dig deeper into your relationship with Jesus.
May we posture our hearts in dependence on Him before we plunge into decision-making.
Meanwhile, I have narrowed down 50+ shades of grey for my wall down to two. The colors of my home don’t matter when I know my real dwelling place. And if the final result turns out to be a gloomy, hospital-like grey, hey, at least I got a blog post out of it. That’s got to be worth something.
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MEET SUSAN
Comments
17 Comments
Susan Mathews
Very encouraging Susan !
Susan Narjala
Thank you so much, Susan! God bless.
Brenda Flaherty
Hi, Susan: I laughed at your attempt to choose a wall color. I just went through the greige colors for my bathroom renovation. Finally chose one! It looks so good!
The Holy Spirit inspired your teaching that touched my heart. Dwelling in Jesus is key in my life as He guides me. Abiding in Him is so peaceful and restful. It replaces anxiety and worry.
Thank you! And may you love your new color! If not, you can always repaint it!
Susan Narjala
Haha. Thanks for the encouragement with both the paint colors and my writing, Brenda. Abiding in Him is our way out of anxiety for sure! God bless. Susan
Brenda
Next week at Bible Study, I’d like to read your email as a devotional and pray about your insights from the HolySpirit on dwelling and abiding in Jesus. Is that Ok to share your email?
After dozens and dozens of samples, I finally chose Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Beige (grey). It works well with the tile we chose. Hope you’re closer to choosing a color!
Susan Narjala
Yes, absolutely. Feel free to use this post as the Lord leads you.
Finally found a color I love 🙂 I live in India — so “befriending” Ben Moore is a bit of a challenge 😉 Thanks, Brenda.
Brenda
Thank you! I’m looking forward to reading more Godly Insights in your next email.
Glad you found a color you enjoy! God bless you!
Ted Senapatiratne
Susan, you got us from the words, “50 Shades” disclaimer! You are gifted!
What a great blog, and invitation to abide with Jesus!
And I hope the grey works for you! 😉 Blessings!
Ted
Susan Narjala
Haha. Yes, I was a bit dubious about using that title, but it seemed only apt for what I was trying to convey through the blog post. I think I’ve finally landed on a grey that I like! Thanks for the encouragement, Ted. Blessings, Susan
Patricia Hatton
Susan, thank you for this. Our Life Group at church has been talking about abiding in Christ. This has helped me to understand more the far reaching impact of what abiding in our Lord means.
Susan Narjala
Every time we reflect on the Word, a new layer of meaning and reflection is unveiled. What a treasure it is. That John 15 passage is no exception. So thankful this spoke to you, Patricia. Blessings, Susan
Bill
NO, one should not “…quit my job and look for another one”, One should look for another job then quit! Ha, as a retiree, and an older man, I suppose it’s okay to jest a bit.
Perfect blog for me today, Susan, as I am preparing a talk for this coming Saturday, “Praying with a Spiritual Focus”, based on three key questions: What do I want God to do? Why does it matter if He does it? And How can I magnify God? Thank you for the confirmation, the extra depth, and all the tips for focusing on Him.
Susan Narjala
Haha. Yes, that’s very wise career advise for sure! Those are some great questions for your upcoming sermon, Bill. I’m sure many will be blessed by it. Thank you for your encouragement. God bless! – Susan
Phyllis Scripsick
Amen! It is so freeing to know that we are never alone as God walks with us every step of the way-right down to choosing a paint color! 😎
Susan Narjala
Haha. Absolutely. He is so good! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Phyllis. God bless. – Susan
Pam Brickhouse
Thanks so much for your posts. So many of them speak to me! I painted my wall a gray that ended up looking lavender in my room. After many tries I ended up with Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams and I love it. It’s definitely a griege. So not gloomy at all. Hope you find your favorite.
Susan Narjala
Hi Pam. Thank you for your kind words. And your helpful tips. I live in India and we don’t have Sherwin Williams, but I did end up finding a griegey shade I love. Thanks again! Susan