From Understanding to Trusting: We Journey on with Christ

In his book, Teaching for Spiritual Growth, Dr. Perry Downs writes,

“God can and does use life experiences to teach us. He brings us through many sorts of events, either easy and enjoyable or difficult and painful, and these are the ‘stuff’ of growth. Many people fail to realize that we do not have to understand what God is teaching in order to grow…we can say this with assurance because ‘we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28)”

Did you catch what he said there?

“…we do not have to understand what God is teaching in order to grow.”

When I read that for the first time, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. How kind is our God that he would continue to work for the good in our lives in forming us to the image of Christ, even beyond our limits of understanding? 

This is a gift, friends.

This is the way of our Good Shepherd–leading us, nourishing us, protecting us from the enemy, healing our wounds. Making us to lie down in green pasture, to rest. To abide.

Are we slowing down enough to recognize the work of Christ in our lives? We do not have to understand, but we still have the choice to receive his ministry to us, or to brush him aside for other concerns.

This I know: Jesus is the treasure! He is our great reward, our deepest and truest love–and he is bringing us closer to himself as we trust him. Our salvation is secure with him. Our growth toward maturity is in the daily walking, the waiting, the abiding. We don’t have to have it all figured out (and honestly, we never will), but we do get to trust.

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“Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast”

Listen here: He Will Hold Me Fast by Norton Hall Band

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