Growth in Grace

Our growth in grace is never instantaneous.

~ Author unknown

I love this quote.  It is written in the margin of my Bible, next to the verse in 2^nd Peter 3:18:  But grow in grace and knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.  It is a source of comfort to me when my spiritual life is rocked by the potholes of life.

My mother was a very concrete, black and white individual.  If the Bible says to grow in grace, then get with it and grow!  Combine that with my perfectionist personality, and the two did not mix very well.  I (supposedly) knew what I was supposed to do: i.e., grow.  I had not the faintest idea how to do it.  The subject of Peter’s statement above is understood:  [You] Grow in grace.  [You] Grow in knowledge.  Again – sounds wonderful.  The kicker is in trying to figure out how to fulfill the command.

As a child, I had no physical or mental control over the development of my body.  I could “wish” to mature until the cows came home, and it would make absolutely no difference in reality.  My part was to provide the building blocks:  good food, water, exercise, sleep. My growth rate lay in the hands of the One who created me.  Each stage unfolded on His timetable—and nothing happened instantaneously.

Our spiritual growth involves a similar process.  Our part is to provide the building blocks:  study of God’s Word, meditation, thoughtful prayer, times of fellowship with His people.  God Himself is the Master Potter, working with our fragile clay, slowly fashioning a beautiful vessel – complete in Him.   

Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.