I’m giving in to God… (An announcement to my readers)

This isn’t the first time God has asked me to do something a little crazy.

There was the time He asked me to give up my idyllic life in suburbia to move to NYC… Twice. There was the time my marriage imploded and God asked me to stay with husband, and another time, when God prompted me to give – literally every cent I had – to the church. Possibly even crazier, is that God had asked me to write through it all on this blog!

In the last three years, I have written through the darkest days of depression, and when divorce seemed inevitable. I’ve lost a baby on this blog, and have written about my tumultuous relationship with my father. I’ve even written extensively about porn! (joy.)

But now, God is asking me to do something that challenges me even further, and to my very core:

….To write a blog post every week for a year.

 

What’s the big deal writing every week, you ask? To be honest, I kind of thought I was done writing. That it was a box I could check off and move on with my life. Maybe even, deep down a part of me hoped that was the case. But God, like God so often does, had other plans.

I don’t know what God has been pressing you to do in the coming year, what He is challenging you to take up, or to (finally) release from your grasp. Here’s what I know: God can ask us to do some outlandishly random things, can He not? The question is, will we – even against our better judgment – listen?

In Luke 5 we see Jesus arrive on the scene of a group of fisherman scrubbing down their boat after a long, unsuccessful night of fishing. And what does Jesus do? Duh, He invites Simon Peter to go fishing.

Understand, that what Jesus was asking Simon to do went against all human logic. Afterall, Simon had finished fishing for the night and hadn’t caught a thing! It would never work. 

Pause. What is it that God is asking you to do today that is inconvenient? Inconceivable, even. Like Simon, what deep water is He asking you to travel? What seemingly unsuccessful thing is God asking you to revisit?

More than that, what’s been your excuse for not doing it?

I don’t know about you, but I have some pretty good excuses for not doing what God has asked me to do; First and foremost being, I don’t even like writing. So yeah, there’s that.

Secondly, I regularly and unintentionally ENRAGE large masses of people when I write — family members, Facebook friends, and on especially bad days, whole parts of the North American continent. (I truly wish that was an exaggeration.)

And if that’s not already enough, I’m about to enter, no doubt, the most uncertain year of my life to date! And the only thing worse than embarking on a terribly uncertain season of your life, is inviting everyone to have front-row seats to watch said: terribly uncertain season of your life.

So, yeah, God… about that….  it’ll never work. 

But in Luke 5:5, Simon Peter says something surprising in spite of all the valid excuses he could make — It’s the same words I have finally thrown up my hands in surrender and exclaimed to God this week, and amid the coming year (they could be the very same words God wants you to give in and say as well)

“If you say so, God… I’ll let down the nets.”

If you say so, God… I’ll write every week for a year. 

If you say so, God… I will travel uncharted waters, throw logic to the wind, and do exactly what You asked, in spite of all the valid excuses I could make.

In Luke 5 it says, “It was no sooner said than done — a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.”

Had Simon not given in to God, he would have never seen the miraculous things God could do with his willingness. And the same could be said of us.

On the other side of our simple, seemingly senseless obedience, God wants us to stand in awe of what He could do through us, if only we would try. What God could do if only we’d step into the raging unknown, past our capabilities and logic, and get on board with where Jesus is taking us and who He wants us to be.

God has so much He wants to show us, so many miracles ready to be unleashed if only we’d stop making excuses, and instead, utter these five words through the depths of our fear: If you say so, God… 

— no matter how inconvenient, and no matter how inconceivable what He is asking us to do!

And that’s exactly what I did this week.

What am I going to write for the next year? I have no idea, and to be honest that scares me. Even scarier, I have no idea what my life is going to look like in the next two weeks, let alone the next year!

But here’s what I know for a fact: writing every week means I can’t hide behind eloquent, edited-to-death blog posts, or perfectly alliterated (and punctuated) sticky statements. Frankly, I don’t have the skill (or the time) for that. On the contrary, writing every week will be messy, raw and unedited… because let’s be honest, my emotions every week are messy, raw and unedited. Faithless, even.

And yet, even still, I’m giving in to God…

and I’m inviting you, my readers, to come along and see.

Gulp. See you in a week, friends.

// 52 weeks, 51 more to go. //

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Krista Ortiz

35 thoughts on “I’m giving in to God… (An announcement to my readers)”

  1. Yay! I love your writing and it’s always what I need to hear when you post. I’m already feeling blessed by Gods calling. Thank you for sharing your mess to remind the rest of us that our messes can still be used by God and that God is faithful. You encourage and challenge my faith.

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  4. I’m excited to see what God has in store for all of us who follow. I know my life has been changed by your honesty and willingness to follow…even reluctantly. We are with you on this journey.

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  5. Yay! I love reading your blog and so I am (selfishly) glad that you are answering God’s calling. Your posts always seem to resonate with me, and I am excited to see what the next year brings. By the way, I am from the South (and I know what you mean, but we aren’t all like that) but I think we would make awesome friends! Lol

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    1. Hahaha, I love this so much! ‘We aren’t all like that!’ — I think you are right, we would make awesome friends 😂😂 Thanks for the encouragement, Mary! glad to have you on board!!

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  7. I am so excited to see what God has planned for you thru your writing!!! He has given you a great gift and I am excited to follow you on this journey .

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  8. I consider this a Christmas gift that will give throughout the year. Krista, I believe the Lord uses you because your emotions are messy, raw, and unedited. Life is messy and as we get front row seats to watch God working in your life, it strengthens, encourages, and brings truth and hope for our own. Thank you for saying “yes.”

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  10. You writing is amazing Krista! Can’t tell that you don’t like writing. =) I am very excited that you are following God’s plan and can’t wait to read what He lays on your heart each week!

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  12. More than thrilled! I love your writing and I’ll be praying the words flow easily. You are such a blessing to so many. Forget the naysayers and keep listening to God.
    Thanks Krista!

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  13. I join the other positive responses and also want to say thank you for your writing. Your openness has frequently blessed and touched me deeply, and I have no doubt it will continue to do so. Praying the Lord’s blessing and protection over you.

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    1. Galina, your prayers mean SO much to me! Thank you. I am also so encouraged to know God could use my honesty to help encourage and challenge others, so thank you for that. Thanks again for your kind words ❤

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  14. I love this! Krista, you are such an inspiration and I’m going to love reading these. We are with you! Well done for stepping out the boat… I’m am so excited to see what this year holds for you and your beautiful family xxxx

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  15. You don’t know me,Krista,but I know all the Argento and I can see your heart is like your Grandmother’s. I am going to pray for you every day and I am looking forward to seeing what the LORD’S going to do in your life

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    1. Thank you so much! That means the world to me that you would pray for me everyday! We are asking God for BIG things these days, and I have a feeling this year He is going to deliver in BIG ways! Thanks in advanced for your prayers ❤

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    1. ‘Life as it is’ — you are so right. It’s not all roses and unicorns, is it? But like you also said, our honesty is an incredible way to minister God’s grace to those around us. I love that! Thanks for sharing that!

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    1. Katherine, that is so kind of you to say. To be honest, I was really running from God about writing, it’s hard sometimes, yah know? But God, so clearly, got a hold of me about it this last month– so here I am! That being said, your encouragement means the world to me! I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!

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  18. “Secondly, I regularly and unintentionally ENRAGE large masses of people when I write — family members, Facebook friends, and on especially bad days, whole parts of the North American continent. (I truly wish that was an exaggeration.)”
    >>> There are people that LOOK for something to be enraged about. Bless their poor hearts.
    Move on!: They’re definitely not worth your time (especially if you are following God’s will.) Your blog is enriching for me AND all others who positively respond to your blog.

    On another note- I truly love reading every single one of your blogs. I can always relate and am so glad to find someone I can grow in the faith with. It’s hard to find that sometimes. You can be my lifeline at times. So, THANK YOU from blog post 1 to now. I’d love to chat more if you’d like to respond (erinkay8906@live.com)
    🙂
    Erin Kay

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  19. This too shall be a glorious crucifixion of the flesh. I don’t know why God says “do this or that, or don’t do this or that” but your obedience is remarkable and a sharp contrast to most of the selfishness that enshrouds us. Be messy. Be raw. Be beautiful – you have my support, permission and prayers!

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