THE PERSONAL GROWTH FACTOR
Nothing in life is easy. All of us experience setbacks and difficulties, even to the point where we begin ask God, "What are you doing to me?" (If you are not willing to admit saying that to God then you should be questioned about other lies in your life.) Everyone has at least thought about that question so you are not alone.
In fact, you might even be there right now. The Bible demonstrates over and again that you are not strange for thinking such a thing. The events of life can be overwhelming at times.
One of the things you get from the book of Psalms is that David and the other writers feel free to be perfectly open and honest with God. The following is a portion of a Psalm attributed to Asaph. See if you have ever felt like this …
Psalms 77:1-15 (ESV) 1 To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 6 I said, "Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart." Then my spirit made a diligent search: 7 "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" Selah 10 Then I said, "I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
This is the expression of an honest heart that is coming clean and emptying itself before God. Understand that God knows your heart whether you express it to Him or not. Coming clean before Him by expressing your distress, your discontent, even your anger, or whatever you feel is the beginning of healing from within. Over and over in the Bible when David, Asaph, Jeremiah or anyone is shown to be perfectly honest in expressing how they really feel from God a inside healing and a different view of what is happening begins to overtake the negativism that is expressed like that at the beginning of Psalm 77.Notice how the Psalm shifts from a focus on what has been lost to the reality of God and His faithfulness. Remember, if you are feeling something, you are not hiding it from God. He knows our thoughts and His Word, the Bible, even exposes the intentions of the heart. In other words, God knows every small detail in our lives so we may as well admit it to Him because once we come clean in emptying our heart, He applies His healing balm to bind up our heart that is broken. (See the prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ below.)
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
So, what is God doing?
God is more interested in our personal growth than He is our temporary comfort. His purpose for all of us is that we grow in character to be like Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28-29 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
I once heard a motivational speaker say that our success in life will only match our personal growth. If we do happen to achieve more or get more in life without the personal growth factor, rising beyond the level of achievement, the achievement will be short lived. That's nothing new. God's Word has stated the same principle.
James 1:2-4 (ESV) 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Instead of drowning ourselves in the disappointments and discouragement of life, remember the personal growth factor. God is taking us to another level in personal growth. However, if we stew and brew in the past we'll miss the opportunity to take it to the next level. Are you honest with Him? If we'll dump it all on Him, He will not only work things out but help us grow in the process.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
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