As a kid, I remember all I wanted to do was “grow up”.
When I was 7, I would watch my mom apply bright red lipstick and think, “I just can’t wait to wear lipstick one day!”
In high school, I watched fashion shows and thought to myself, “One day, I’ll be a fashion designer!”
And in college, I impatiently waited through each class complaining to my friends, “I just want to be in the ‘real world’!”
My mind has always been on growing up, and now that I am officially a “grown up”, I beg for time to slow down…
Life is funny that way isn’t it?
This Sunday we honed in on the idea of growing up in the faith, and what that truly looks like.
Ironically, the thing that often makes us grow in our faith is actually the act of slowing down to lean in close to the Lord…abiding.
Sitting still. Hearing His voice.
Nothing will make you grow up faster than when you walk through a trial. All the hopes and dreams you had for life, all the naivety in thinking everything will work out comes crashing down when you realize life isn’t actually “easy” in any sense of the word.
But I believe that’s where God does His best work…
In the trials, we are refined by fire. In the hardships, we grow to a level of intimate closeness we look back at and wouldn’t trade for the world.
Growing up is painful and hard at times, but it all seems worthwhile when you see the spiritual fruit…when you realize that you’ve learned to abide as a daily rhythm, not as a last resort.
The purpose of our growth and maturity as believers is to walk through life hand in hand with God, and then turn around to extend a hand to someone else still growing up in the faith.
It really is a miraculous process isn’t it? One believer is refined by the fire, to then walk back into that fire for someone else…showing them the way to Christ.
Paul says it so well in 2 Corinthians 1:4-6 (NLT):
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ.
Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.”
At the end of the message on Sunday we were challenged with this question: What is an area you can grow towards maturity in?
Whatever it is friend, whatever God brings to your heart, let Him do the hard work of refining you…because one day you will look back and say, “That is where I learned to abide.”
When I was 7, I would watch my mom apply bright red lipstick and think, “I just can’t wait to wear lipstick one day!”
In high school, I watched fashion shows and thought to myself, “One day, I’ll be a fashion designer!”
And in college, I impatiently waited through each class complaining to my friends, “I just want to be in the ‘real world’!”
My mind has always been on growing up, and now that I am officially a “grown up”, I beg for time to slow down…
Life is funny that way isn’t it?
This Sunday we honed in on the idea of growing up in the faith, and what that truly looks like.
Ironically, the thing that often makes us grow in our faith is actually the act of slowing down to lean in close to the Lord…abiding.
Sitting still. Hearing His voice.
Nothing will make you grow up faster than when you walk through a trial. All the hopes and dreams you had for life, all the naivety in thinking everything will work out comes crashing down when you realize life isn’t actually “easy” in any sense of the word.
But I believe that’s where God does His best work…
In the trials, we are refined by fire. In the hardships, we grow to a level of intimate closeness we look back at and wouldn’t trade for the world.
Growing up is painful and hard at times, but it all seems worthwhile when you see the spiritual fruit…when you realize that you’ve learned to abide as a daily rhythm, not as a last resort.
The purpose of our growth and maturity as believers is to walk through life hand in hand with God, and then turn around to extend a hand to someone else still growing up in the faith.
It really is a miraculous process isn’t it? One believer is refined by the fire, to then walk back into that fire for someone else…showing them the way to Christ.
Paul says it so well in 2 Corinthians 1:4-6 (NLT):
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ.
Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.”
At the end of the message on Sunday we were challenged with this question: What is an area you can grow towards maturity in?
Whatever it is friend, whatever God brings to your heart, let Him do the hard work of refining you…because one day you will look back and say, “That is where I learned to abide.”
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Temple Care” where she provides regular messages of encouragement. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.