Faith That Grows in Every SeasonНамуна

GROW TO GRACE:

A couple of intense ice storms had damaged several mature boxwood bushes in our landscaping, leaving brown patches on the foliage throughout. When spring came, I cut off the dead branches, hoping they would fill in and become symmetrical again. But after waiting all summer, the bushes remained lopsided and scraggly.

The next spring, we pruned every branch, even the healthy ones, down to eight inches in height. It was a drastic move, but we didn't know what else to do. Perhaps extreme pruning would spark new growth.

Unfortunately, it didn't. Although a few sprigs of growth appeared over the summer, they were very few. Most branches remained bare and eventually became so brittle that they would snap off with relative ease.

Instead of digging up the shrubs and removing them completely, we decided to give them one more chance. We waited through fall, then winter, and finally, spring. Still no growth. The boxwoods were completely dead.

Friends, when it comes to spiritual growth, I can say with all honesty… I'm not where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be.

Here's what I have come to understand about God. He never forces spiritual growth upon us. He gives us plenty of experiences, opportunities, and grace. But whether we choose to allow those things to grow us is up to us.

God allows us freedom to set the pace. We can walk, run, crawl, or even hobble to the next level of our faith journey. We get to choose when to move, when to stop, when to speed up, and when to slow down. God even allows us freedom to choose which direction to head towards.

Why?

Because it's not only about the destination (heaven), it's also about the journey (what God wants to teach us along the way).

It's not just about walking and talking with God. It's also about tripping, falling, and learning from our mistakes. Never fear, God is there to catch us, dust us off, and encourage us along the way.

God wants us to know Him intimately and trust Him completely. Trust doesn't just happen. It takes time. Time and experience. Head knowledge is one thing and serves its purpose. But heart knowledge? That takes our faith to a whole new level.

Whether you have slowed down, sped up, or taken a giant leap across the great divide, never give up. God will give you grace to grow and faith that grows in every season.

REFLECTION:

Compare your faith journey today to where it was 10 years ago. What changes do you see?

Think about 10 years from now. What growth do you hope to see, and how will you get there?

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for your patience and grace as I continue to grow in my faith. I never want to stop growing or producing fruit, so keep nudging me forward, one step at a time.