“We are all underway and we are not all in the same place.”- John Eldredge
“Until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”- Ephesians 4:13
In Chapter 2 (“Third Graders at Normandy”) of Moving Mountains, John Eldredge discusses the first of two assumptions essential to prayer:
1. God is growing us all up. John states that “we are at different stages of maturing”- we are all underway. Mr. Eldredge adds that realization is very gracious, realistic, and quite helpful to understanding your own life as well as the lives of others around you.
God understands where you are and is absolutely committed to your growing up. As John explains, God has a fervent passion for our maturity:
“God . . . is utterly delighted with our attempts at prayer; he loves our little prayers tucked into drawers (aka God’s In-Box). And, he is calling us upward to grow into the maturity we were destined for, including mature prayers.”
But there is one problem, as John points out. Most of us don’t share God’s fervent passion that we mature. Our default settings take up residence in other things- the big game, our general comfort (which includes getting others to cooperate with our agenda).
John describes the means God provides for growing us up:
“Situations that stretch us, strain us, push us beyond what we thought we could endure- those very same circumstances that cause us to pray. This assumption is important for one simple reason: it changes your expectations.”
We are all underway. We are being called up.
Today’s question: At what stage of maturing are you when it comes to prayer? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The story you find yourself in”
