I have a love-hate relationship with the first day of school.
When my three daughters were young, I could barely contain my excitement as they prepared to meet their new teachers and classmates. I was giddy about all the learning experiences and social activities I knew they would enjoy during the new school year.
At the same time, I was heartbroken about the swift passage of time marked by yet another first day of school. It meant my girls were already another year older. And that meant they were also another year closer to adulthood.
I dreaded the first day of school because I wanted to hold onto life as we knew it.
So, from preschool to college, on the first day of school I mourned how swiftly our summer had come to a close.
How can time possibly pass at such breakneck speed ?
And how in the world could I make it slow down?
As this summer ended, my husband and I bought new shoes for each of our grandchildren. Then my daughters texted, called, and Marco Polo’d as they picked out new backpacks, lunchboxes, and water bottles for their kids.
And I felt the same familiar pang in my chest.
Please, can’t they stay young a little longer?
How in the world could my oldest grandson be so old when it seems his mom was there just yesterday?
Of course, I knew the answer.
As long as we’re alive, we’ll keep changing.
We can’t stay the same.
And that pertains to our spiritual lives as well.
That’s because God is a mover, and we’re on a journey. Even if our tendency is to hunker down where we are, God urges us onward.
When God brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He allowed them to camp out for a while, organize themselves, and get a grip. But not for long.
In no time at all, God called them to move on so they could accomplish the things He had planned.
When we were at Mount Sinai the Lord our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough.’
As much as we might like to kick our feet back and plant ourselves right where we are, that would be contrary to what God calls us as Christians to do.
Instead, we should be growing spiritually.
Otherwise, it’s as though we never got out of spiritual kindergarten. In fact, the Bible compares spiritually immature Christians to babies.
You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles in God’s Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk, not old enough for solid food. And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life, and doesn’t know much about the difference between right and wrong. He is still a baby Christian!
As long as we stay where we are spiritually, we’ll live a spiritually mediocre life. And we’ll be void of the power, joy, and purpose God intended for us.
In fact, as God moves and changes us, He empowers us to live a life we could never live without Him.
Looking back over my life, I recognize seasons where God all but drug me to a new place with Him, yet He never gave up on me. Even when I didn’t want to go.
And there are plenty of times I resisted.
That’s because it’s easier to stay than to go.
Over the years, I’ve found God to be consistent about His moving plan.
When our hearts needs changing, God doesn’t send us on a self-improvement course. And when He wants us to have a new ministry, He doesn’t send us on a search for available positions.
Instead, God simply calls us to Himself.
To a deeper faith and a closer walk.
Growing spiritually is always a part of His plan.
And I’ve never grown closer to the Lord outside the pages of my Bible. God always meets us in His Word.
Although I appreciate spiritual-sounding memes and Christian songs—because good ones point us to Christ—in the end, that’s all they do. They point us in the right direction. But where we find Him is in His Word.
Without fail, growing spiritually changes our heart. And oftentimes new ministry opportunities become clear as God reveals them through His Spirit.
I’m so grateful God is a mover.
Growing spiritually always requires moving forward.
If God weren’t prodding us forward, we’d grow stagnant.
And that would mean the person I am today is the same person I’d be stuck with for the rest of my life! The very thought makes me want to fall on my face and thank the Lord that He’s constantly moving me.
In my current season of life, I sense God moving me to be more courageous. During my recent study through the book of 1 Samuel, I was reminded of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. And although I’ve never heard God speak audibly, I could sense Him telling me through His Word to pack up my fears and trust Him more deeply.
This year my daughters and grandchildren filled me in on all the excitement of their first week of school. Without exception, every grandchild was giddy.
As they shared about their new classes, new friends, and new adventures, my excitement for them grew. And I was glad they were growing older.
Like it or not, they’re moving on.
And so am I.
This is beautiful, Cindy! Such a great reminder for me. Thank you for sharing!