The Stepping Stones of Growth

Life has an interesting way of leading us down paths that we might never have expected to visit. The journey of experience is often adventurous and full of priceless teachable moments.

The ups and downs of living often carry heavy weights within our souls; times of abundant blessings are wonderful, while the not so happy times aren't as joyful. Why do we go through these waves of time? Why can't it just be good all the time?

Another possible question is this: why do we experience some things in the way that we do? Why do we meet some people in certain ways or in certain times of our walk with Christ?
Maybe you've not had much luck with life lately. Everything is a mess and it just seems like God isn't listening.

I love Christ, but I don't understand why I am in this stage of my life. I had the best intentions and my life has just fallen apart. I don't know how I got to where I am at. Christ and I lost touch it seems and I just have no idea how He is going to use me anymore. Everything in life is so wrong. 

Have you ever had the above thought? I included this because I know as a Christian who possesses a stubborn, strong will paired with a desire for the Lord, I definitely have! I am thankful for my Savior because every thought, every choice, and every experience has taught me a valuable lesson. Satan loves to put the italicized thought in my mind frequently and it is a shame that in the past I have allowed it to overpower my being.

It is so common to ask ourselves the above questions and view it through a shadowed lens. What if we put those questions in a different context?

Life can't be great all the time, and yes as humans we do stumble. We do experience blessings. We do feel happy. We do get weary in spirit; however, God is good all the time.

What if we looked at our journeys as stepping stones of growth instead of allowing parts of the road to put the brakes on our faith? We sometimes meet people we need for a season in order for God to grow us in some way; others we may be blessed with for a lifetime. Don't let Satan drill that negativity into who you become. Fight it!

How can these stepping stones help you to grow?

1) Unfruitful Mindsets Are Taken Away: Personal experience has allowed me to glance back in hindsight at the unhealthiness I possessed. I battle with caring what everyone thinks of me. Recently, my continuous growth has seen some of that finally start to evaporate from my life & I love it. A lot of loss in friendships, personal accountability, and a decision to relinquish my investment into others' opinions has helped my world to rebuild. I don't care if I am adored by the world or if I become a famous writer; that is not what I live or stand for. I needed to go through a season of experience and teaching to lose the tiny, yet ever present hunger for self glory that I held. I hadn't realized how much I had lost it until I looked back on the past year and a half & saw how much my thought processes had changed. Having the mindset of a child who is still longing for acceptance does absolutely nothing for your future self. You have to let it go in your own time and you will. Everyone's life story is unique. I had never realized how self hungry I had been until after I went through some experiences; I needed those moments that felt like a test.

2) You Grow Wise Against the Deception of the World: The traveling times I had were much needed; I saw the world for the ugly dark abyss that it is. Society is one huge trap of deception and a lot of people live oblivious to that fact. As A Christian, I grew because I saw just how much a hold Satan has on the world; had I not traveled, I never would have understood the magnitude of his power or his venomous grasp. I needed to go through that year and a half to really understand what is going on in the world around me; I ventured outside my bubble. '

3) You are Drawn Closer to Him: I have found that a lot of times a season of testing is what brings your heart closer to the Lord; especially if you have been feeling far away from Him. Time has recently seen my heart change in a big way. I am through with not being totally sold out to the Lord. You get to that point. Sometimes, He has to break you down to build you better. I lost a lot of who I was to become a better servant to Him. Experiences can cleanse your soul in ways you never imagined. Your heart changes. You grow deeper into Him through your walk sometimes without you being aware until you're at a certain point. Life is so cool isn't it?

I felt that I needed to revive Molly's Zone with this post because I have encountered many a stepping stone; oftentimes I have given into the negative way of looking at life, but I am slowly learning to enjoy me & to not entertain unnecessary thoughts. I hope this helps someone who may be at a "figuring things out" checkpoint in their lives! Turn those "why's and what ifs" into "How can the Lord grow me from this?" 

Embrace your stepping stones!