You must change! It is the only sign that you are growing.
If you are not changing, you are not growing.
All of us were born to change, physically, mentally, and spiritually. All living things grow, and all growing things change. We’re all born small, dependent, and needy humans, requiring total care at first and then developing, learning, and becoming gradually more independent.
I remember my father introducing me to someone and they looked at me and said, “Wow, you have grown since the last time I’ve seen you!” It made me feel good. That was physical change. But I also grew in knowledge. Change happened continuously in my life.
I also grew in the Lord spiritually. My capabilities expanded. I kept stepping though faith doors, trying new things, stumbling at times, getting up and going through the next door. The process continues today. Some of those doors opened opportunities; others opened problems. Was God somehow involved in both? Yes, they all opened up an opportunity to grow.
The problems we try to evade or ignore actually built all things like stamina, character, perseverance, knowledge, and wisdom. Trees need strong wind to build roots. No point in complaining about our “contrary” winds.
If you are unwilling to change, God is limited to what He can do for you. The Bible is filled with examples of people who changed and grew. These stories were written to teach us His ways both by instruction and by observing His work in the past.
David failed many times even as he changed and grew. But he humbled himself and went on persevering through serious consequences.
David, a young boy watching the sheep for his father, killing lions and bears. He was there in lambing time, up all night bringing new life into the world. He was there in shearing time, working hard. He was there day in and day out. No days off and he was just a kid. And in his free time David wrote songs and sang them to God.
David learned he was a warrior at heart and in fact by taking on Goliath. He never went to military school. He never studied the “art of war,” but he was learning the principles of war in a sheepfold. God can teach you the principles of success from absolutely any place on this planet. It seemed like David was a nobody, but then he was leading an army.
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” David loved God. That was his foundation and he used that principle to lead the people to God as he changed and grew. We will never lead people beyond our own foundations. If our hearts are not right, if our motives are not pure, if our behaviour is not exemplary, we will never grow into anything successful.
David failed many times even as he changed and grew. But he humbled himself and went on persevering through serious consequences. David suffered much tragedy throughout his life of struggle through failures and successes. He did not have an easy life but his place in history is secure.
The only constant in life is change. We must change as well in order to grow and improve.
