We’ve all been there. The magnitude of a seemingly insurmountable task leaves us paralyzed at best and in wretched despair at worst. How can we push ourselves through unbearable effort to strive toward the unattainable? We may be staring hopelessly at the course toward financial recovery, the journey toward overcoming addiction, the long road of relationship reconciliation, the endurance of failing health, or the endeavor for holiness… or perhaps just the next work assignment. Maybe even the great commission and church growth.
We have walked this journey with our children in a number of ways, and one in particular stands out: one child’s devastation at the expectation of salvaging a messy room to restore a state of cleanliness. Many times, the destination was unfathomable for him, considering the current circumstances! Initially, we would work with him to get from mess to clean. But after a few demonstrations of the attainability of the project, we have moved to hands-off coaching: start with putting all the Legos back in their box. Now, make sure the cars are in your car drawer. Trash off the floor… Pencils in the box… (You get the picture!)
Our son is learning valuable lessons that we pray he will carry into many other areas of life. Let me share them with you.
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Seek progress, not perfection
In many cases, the task ahead is daunting because of the major gap between the current state and the destination. Our tendency can be to focus on how far we fall short, rather than “pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Of course, we’re not to consider ourselves to have arrived (Philippians 3:12).
Baby steps forward might seem like they’ll take forever. But a child looking in the mirror will not observe growth; instead, it will be apparent in seeing from where he came a year prior. For our son, it means starting with a specific toy to make progress in his cleaning. It may mean taking action to save financially in one area, to ask forgiveness of one person, or inviting one person to church. What baby steps can you take toward progress?
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Patterns avoid piles
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Making regular habits to take strides toward tasks sure is easier than constantly playing catch-up! Perhaps we rely on the grace of forgiveness, having to deal with piles, rather than laboring in grace of obedience, developing patterns in which we keep current.
Patterns are established by training in repetition – even when we don’t feel like it (especially when we don’t feel like it)! It is a training of the body to take action, the mind to understand its purpose, and the heart to regard its value. We are training our children to make a habit of putting things away after playing with them, and recognizing the ease of maintaining cleanliness when they do so. We could all gain from regular habits of responsible financial decisions, regular habits of kindness, confession, and forgiveness in our relationships, and regular habits of choosing obedience over sin.
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There is purpose in the process
God has been showing me this repeatedly! I believe that in the many times that we are asking “Why, Lord?” that He is working His purpose in that process. Now, God almost never explains why. But we do treasure His promise in Romans 8:28-29: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. God is good, what He does is good, and we have a choice: in the midst of this process, will I choose, by God’s grace, to become more like Christ?
I could keep cleaning my son’s room for him… but that wouldn’t help him in the long run. Instead, he will learn practical skills, not just for cleaning and maintaining his room, but also in regard to many life decisions. In times of financial struggle, God may be teaching dependence, wisdom, humility, or another lesson. In times of broken relationships, God may be revealing our sin, magnifying His grace, or preparing us for something greater. But don’t guess the lesson; simply seek to be faithful in your response!
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Practice makes proficient
Sometimes the training is not for forward progress. I have to admit, I hate cleaning because tomorrow, the mess will be back. To me, it appears to be the hamster wheel that takes us nowhere! However, whether cleaning, or repetitive (seemingly unproductive) effort toward our health, finances, relationships, holiness, or evangelism, we are gaining in abilities that God would use in a unique way. Even when seeming fruitlessness gives the appearance of non-progress, I have developed “muscles” in various areas for life, godliness, and ministry.
If you get into regular practice of sharing the good news of Jesus, and you never see its impact – you are developing spiritual muscles that are for your benefit as well, and may well prepare you for the time when your faithfulness has an explosive impact (not to mention the unseen fruit of the implanted Word, which does not return empty)! Faithful practice in finance, relationships, health, and holiness will develop you in a number of ways that make us proficient, not only in those areas, but in like areas!
Do not be discouraged, nor lose heart! Start forward, and take faithful action while trusting God, that you may see and be part of what only God can do!