I sat down a couple days ago and mused on some of the key things that really cause us to grow in the Lord. There are obvious aspects such as our time in the Word, corporate worship, prayer, etc. Those ought to be givens. Right? But then there are the “other things”. The tough things. The stuff that we’d all like to avoid, but let’s admit it…in hindsight…we’ve grown as a result of having those experiences. Here are six of them that I came up with for my own life (and I think is representative of so many others):
1. Pain
C.S. Lewis says, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
2. People
Dr. Kent M. Keith says, “People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.”
3. Finances
Billy Graham says, “Next to the Bible, the second most theological document is our checkbook.”
4. Failure
John Maxwell says something to the effect, “If you fall down, while you’re there, pick something up.”
5. Crisis
Someone once said, “People are like tea bags. If you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water!”
6. Change
I love what Eleanor Roosevelt said, “People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.”
What are some other things that God uses to grow YOU?