Her Faith Thrives

Growth can sometimes feel more frustrating than inspiring. It sits stubbornly opposed to the powerful stagnancy that can feel like a permanent part of who we are.  This stagnancy settles in, taking the form of the never ending to-do-list or the goal we never seem to achieve. Nevertheless, no matter how stuck we sometimes feel, we were created to grow and become and progress. Growth is the behind-the-scenes stretching, breaking, dying, and being reborn that is necessary for progress. Yet so many times it feels impossible to want growth or even see it.

When I took my first job as a physical therapist, I was thankful and excited. After 3 difficult years in school, I was glad I would finally be able to put what I learned into practice in a new city. After a couple of months of doing the hard work of settling into a new rhythm and learning my new job; things started shifting in the wrong direction.  The company I hired on with was bought by a different company and the resulting changes meant, that what was once a perfectly staffed market, was now an overstaffed market.  I and all the new hires were understandably on edge.

Shortly after the change in company ownership, my job quickly changed from serving patients in one clinic to floating to 7 different clinics in my new city.  The change was sudden and unwanted, but I needed the job. I had to fight anxiety and disappointment in that season. I was afraid I would not be competent at the job and I would end up on the chopping block. As I worked hard to meet the increasing demands if my unwanted float position, I was tempted to be resentful and bitter. What started out as a bright launch into a new season became a disappointing and uncertain mess.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. John 12:24 NLT

In my season of uncertainty, truth stood out against my mess like a light turned on too soon on a dark, sleepy morning. There was no mistaking that God planted me in this job with all its unwanted twists and turns.  There was also no mistaking that there was going to be no growth without dying to myself.

Everything in me fought against the difficult reality of growth. What if dying meant I was just dead and permanently fruitless instead of fruitful?  How could I let go of myself to become more? I wrestled with God in that season. Was God really calling me to let go of everything I thought that season would hold and choose to trust Him instead?  Had He not approved of my desires when He gave me the job initially? Why would God make me one way only to turn around and remake me?

In my wrestling, God continued to instruct me: Rejoice in me always, pray without ceasing, always give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Let go.

Let go.

Let go.

Let Me* fill you up.

Let Me* redefine you.

Let Me* remake you in this season. 

Accept struggle, accept growth and experience abundant life.

I knew at the time I did not have the capacity to obey God’s call to growth. He called me to trust Him when my instinct was to stay guarded. He called me to be joyful, but my heart cry was complaint. He called me to be thankful while I was justifying being resentful.  Our faithful God continued to make the invitation, come and die and let me remake you into one who is fruitful.

I had to choose to surrender to my maker instead of defaulting to my nature. Over time and through struggle, I discovered a deep well of joy through intentional thankfulness in that season. Choosing to grow in that season allowed me to experience life.

I do not know where this article finds you. Perhaps you are reeling from a change in your circumstances, maybe you are battling relational pain following a painful ending, maybe you have been grappling with the daily struggle of unfulfilled desire. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, let us choose to continually believe that the path our God has chosen for us in this moment has accounted for our brokenness. God is always in loving control of our lives and He calls us to the counter-intuitive embrace of growth.  Let us choose to believe that as we embrace growth in obedience to Him, we will experience abundant life.

“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship, we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus, it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” The cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dig Deeper:

1.      Growth: What is an unwanted or difficult situation are you in right now? What action steps can you take to grow right where you are?

2.      Connection:  Reach out to one person and let them know where you are struggling to grow right now. Next, tell them one step you are taking to grow right where you are.

3.      Gratitude: For whatever situation you identified, list 3 things you can be thankful for in the midst of the difficulty

For Further Encouragement

Were you encouraged by this blog post? I would love to connect with you on our special Her Faith Thrives Newsletter which goes out every other month. In each newsletter, I share a short reflection about how I’m growing in my faith during this season of life. Plus, I’ll be sending you some fantastic resources to inspire and guide you on your own faith journey. When you subscribe, you will receive my all-time favorite tool for making your Daily Quiet Time truly meaningful. It’s called “From Routine to Reverence: 3 Simple Steps to a Deeper Daily Quiet Time.” I can’t wait to hear how it helps you deepen your time in God’s Word.