My parents have a beam in their house that has marked the growth of every grandchild and now great-grandchildren. When you look back at the marks of each one, you can see how they have grown over the years. Each mark signifies a date and the growth since the last measurement.
It was April 1, 2004, (21 years ago) that I was diagnosed with cancer. After I received the call at work, one of my co-workers asked me what I was going to do now. My reply, “grow in my faith I guess”. I really don’t think I could have spoken a more precise statement at the time.
I was 42 years old. I didn’t have time for my life to be interrupted by cancer. But I wasn’t in control. Suddenly, I realized just how not in control I was. With a freshman and a senior in high school, life was busy.
It was on that day that my perspective changed on a lot of things. I realized my life, my challenges, everything I have, the frustrations, the good and the bad were all temporary. Life began to look a bit different and my relationship with the Lord grew much deeper. I was about to encounter a marker.
You may not realize it, but our life is filled with marks that signify our spiritual growth. It may be a particularly difficult journey that you’ve been on, it could be something you have prayed and lamented over, it could be a job change or family change.
Our stories are all different. God is purposing and is the author of your story. Do you want to be in control or do you want Him to be in control. Can you look back and see those markers in your life that have represented growth?
I’m not sure I will ever say that I was thankful I had cancer, but I am thankful for the lessons and growth that came with it. I can go back in my life and can see where every difficult circumstance brought significant growth. My life verse is:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Today I want to remind you that you are called according to His purpose. He is working things out for your good and His glory. Maybe today you can reflect on those markers in your life and thank God for the growth you experienced.
I want to encourage you not to waste those times that God has purposed in your life but rather use that part of your story to encourage and be a blessing to someone else. God wants to use you, and you are a living testimony.
Do you have a life verse or a favorite verse? I would love to know it.
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39
Fun fact: This is the wall of growth since 1985.