He Keeps Growing Me

I feel like I should start a regular "things I'm learning" segment.

So here goes nothing for this week:

• People's reactions will often be disappointing. When you're looking for a soft place to land, especially in another self-proclaimed Jesus follower, you might find that the ground is hard and rocky. This has made me angry in my walk, but God showed me how He uses these situations for me to give these people the grace He always gives me. And also, maybe it's a bit on me for expecting someone to react the way I believe they should react. Instead, I should seek my comfort in Christ alone and then turn to those who have a hard time with transparency and empathy because they're ultimately in search of that very same comfort too.
• What I'm doing, I'm doing for the Lord alone. And this might mean saying "no" to all the "good" things every Christian "should" do. The only "should" I need to listen to is the one that comes from the lips of my Savior.
• Sometimes, ministry is tending to the people in your inner circle, sacrificing your time and energy to help them see Jesus in the everyday. It doesn't necessarily come with a fancy title and all the "trimmings." Sometimes, ministry is a beautifully quiet affair only between you, Jesus, and His people.
• Actually, I'm starting to think the above-mentioned point is what ministry actually is, and we (especially us results-driven Americans) get it all wrong. Surprise, surprise.
• It's the softer, slower moments in life when God seems to be gearing us up for the next phase, something we can't see but know will be sweet and satisfying because it comes from Him.
• Stepping into my day, offering it to God, and allowing Him to write my daily storyline is far more pleasurable for me and glorifying to Him than me trying to work out my day the way I see fit.

I'm thankful He keeps growing me, and that we have the opportunity to be old dogs learning new tricks, despite what the world tells us.

He is always moving us forward in this beautiful Kingdom of His with no help from ourselves.

And may we, at the very least, stop throwing on the brakes and making more work for the One who just wants us to become what He's always desired us to be.