It’s a process…

The journey of life takes us through a huge process of growth. And for some odd reason, I keep thinking that at specific points in my life I've arrived at a certain location in which there is no more growth needed. When I reach a level, for example, Grad school, I somehow expect myself to have arrived and to now be well and on my way to doing what I dream. What I fail to realize is that my dream is going to take me through that previously mentioned process. And that process always involves realization, awareness, pain, obstacles, humility, healing, epiphanies, change, and ultimately joy. And then the process continues, but never in the same order. Growth is what we desire, but without all the stuff in between. It's kind of like trying to eat a plate of salad without messing with the fork and awkwardly stuffing lettuce into your mouth. It just can't be done without all the messy stuff in between. That's what I'm learning right now.

I'm learning that no matter how many times you think you learn something, you can always learn it again. I'm also learning that really, it's not about me. One of my greatest enemies is myself. When I focus on myself, I fail to remember that my identity and confidence is in Jesus Christ. Because of this, I eventually wane and fail. Anxiety creeps in and I forget that God is my Refuge and my Hope. Christ is my deliverer and atonement. And the Holy Spirit testifies with my spirit and God's. That is where my identity lies. And that produces fruit in the midst of these struggles called the process of growth. I am whole in the Lord and He is my strength.

Growing is an opportunity to shape your character. And God calls us each to have impeccable characters. He tells us to be holy because He is holy. He desires that we live with attitudes of humility, righteousness, and love. Now, we can't do this on our own, but the Spirit produces what is good and true in us. He transforms us and helps us to be people of good character. Welcome growth (which is different from pain), however hard it may be. God does not desire His Children to be in pain, but this world is still not right- it's still broken. And because it is broken, we bleed. But, praise God there's hope because Jesus Christ is our atonement and we are whole and holy in Him. No, don't welcome and rejoice in the pain, but rejoice with Christ in you who has overcome the pain. And through Christ you now have the opportunity to walk with hope through whatever it is that has caused you to experience the process of growth. Recognize that because you have this circumstance, this pain, this heartache, you now have God's grace at work in your life- your character is being shaped to look like Jesus'. And that is worth it all.