Spiritual growth is not instant. It’s a gradual process that requires endurance, patience, and balance. At TCI Birmingham, a church in Birmingham UK, we remind believers that faith is strengthened both in struggle and in rest. God shapes us through perseverance and refreshes us through joy.
Developing Endurance Through Trials (Romans 5:3)
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” (Romans 5:3).
It is important to renew our minds, but it is also important to realise that this process of reprogramming or renewing our minds will take place little by little. Don’t be discouraged if progress seems slow. Don’t get down when you have setbacks or bad days. Just get back up, dust yourself off and start again.
When a baby is learning to walk, he falls many, many times before he develops the ability to walk without falling; however, the baby is persistent. He may cry for a while after he falls down, but he always gets right back up and tries again. Learning to change our thinking works the same way. We struggle and fall down, but God is always there to pick us up.
Rather than get frustrated, you should, as the Bible says, “triumph” in your hardship, because the very fact that you are struggling means that you are fighting the good fight. There will be days when we don’t do everything right, days when our thinking is negative. But never stop trying. God is gradually bringing us around to His way of thinking. Just don’t give up!
Finding Balance and Joy in the Journey (Ecclesiastes 2:24)
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
Enjoyment is the fuel we need to reach the finish line of an endeavour with a good attitude. We may drive ourselves to finish, but somewhere along the way we will probably become bitter and get a chip on our shoulder if we don’t lighten up and take time to celebrate the journey.
Too many people work constantly and stress themselves out, feeling guilty about enjoying and celebrating life when God has clearly ordained and commanded both labour and enjoyment. Our Bible passage today says that it is good for us to relax and enjoy ourselves in the midst of demanding work. Our thinking has been distorted in this area.
Satan has managed to deceive us, and by doing so he succeeds in keeping people weary and worn-out, feeling resentful and taken advantage of because of excessive work and responsibility. We need times of refreshment and recreation as well as work and accomplishment. You should be diligent in whatever task God has placed in front of you but make sure that you find a balance by learning to reward yourself and enjoy life.
Conclusion
Spiritual maturity comes from endurance and joy working hand in hand. Keep pushing forward even when it’s hard, but also take time to rest and celebrate. God is not just found at the finish line, He’s with you every step of the way.