A Key Insight into Challenges and Maturity

A Key Insight into Challenges and Maturity

The apostle John celebrates the fact that we're all in differing stages of development [see 1 John 2:12-14]. The point isn't to dwell on how weak or immature we are currently; it's that we're all in process, and our goal is to become fully grown and mature persons. The apostle Peter said... "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:2-3).  The pure spiritual milk Peter refers to can only be attained through Scripture. Our heavenly Father loves us as we love our own children, and he longs for us to mature just as we desire growth and maturity for our own sons and daughters.  He doesn't want us to stagnate; in fact, if we've entrusted our lives to his care, he won't allow it. It's not healthy for us. It would be profoundly unloving to allow us to remain weak and feeble... James provides a key insight about how God brings us to maturity. He writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4). James's point is this: rather than allowing our troubles to overwhelm us, we can embrace whatever we're facing, knowing that we've not been abandoned, the challenge will not last forever, and it will inevitably bring about maturity in our lives... "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Chaos loses its power to derail life when we can see it as more than just a problem or hardship to be overcome. When we have the clarity that God redeems everything for our good, circumstance fades into the background, and God takes his rightful place at the center of our lives. Everything we face in life can be (and is being) used to increase our strength, endurance, and trust in God. And everything is in the process of being redeemed and converted for our ultimate benefit. -Passages: How Reading the Bible in a Year Will Change Everything for You ( eBook), by Brian Hardin