Are You Growing on God’s Schedule?
Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the Lord rejoice to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. For these seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that see everywhere around the world. (Zechariah 4:10 TLB)
As someone who runs an online business, blogs, and markets our family farm website, I am constantly inundated with the message that bigger is better. Targeted advertisements try to sell me courses promising to help my posts go viral or to increase online sales threefold in less than a year. Emails fill my inbox with tips for social media branding and how to make six figures from your personal website.
I have struggled with the message that explosive growth equals worth for many years. On the one hand, I long for more eyes to read the words I write and increase the reach of my online businesses. On the other hand, the idea of selling myself feels unnatural and forced. As author Emily P. Freeman wisely states, “Our souls weren’t made for fame.”
The underlying message of these advertisements is that slow, small growth equates to undesirable and unsuccessful. Society pushes us to be bigger, faster, stronger, and more in every category imaginable. Nothing is inherently wrong with wanting success in your business and in your life. Our lives are a gift, and we make every effort to live them fully and productively. The problem comes when we’re encouraged to elevate ourselves to a level we were never meant to achieve. When we put too much focus on ourselves, we steal the attention reserved for God.
I learned a lot about growth in the natural world over the past year. As a novice flower farmer, I spent hours poring over books written on the best flowers to grow for cutting and their care. I was surprised to learn that plants grown for nurseries are forced to flower long before they would if they grew in the natural world. This is why we can all go to a local home improvement or big box store in May and find tiny plants already fully flowered. While the flowers are beautiful and catch our eyes, their overall growth is stunted because they never reached their full growth potential before flowering.
Spiritually, humans aren’t that different from flowers. When we focus on creating the image we present to the world, we risk stunting the quiet, slow growth God intended for us. I want to grow on God’s schedule, not the world’s schedule. I don’t want to hinder my spiritual development in exchange for showy petals on a stunted stalk.
The Bible provides numerous examples of slow growth from small beginnings. Abraham’s descendants, who would rival the number of stars in the sky, started with a single son. The wall that protected Jerusalem began with a single stone. Jesus invested deeply in the lives of just twelve men when he could have had the whole world’s attention. From that initial investment, a global religion was born as those men and women closest to Christ poured their time and energy into a few people.
It is incredibly easy to get wrapped up in the earthly quest of making a name for myself. This year, I commit to choosing a slow, rooted growth where I am planted. I am investing in my closest relationships, focusing less on reach and more on depth. I am choosing the small, slow ways of God as I seek to walk humbly with my Savior.
With the new year upon us, we break out our best pens and planners to scrawl resolutions and goals for the days ahead. This year, will you choose the slow, purposeful development of God? Can you commit to asking God to elevate himself in your life instead of making goals advancing your image? Let’s embrace growth on God’s schedule and look forward to the fruit only he can produce.
Lord, let your name be magnified. Help us to remember to choose your ways over the loud cries of the world. Give us the desire to embrace the slow, quiet growth you have designed for our souls. Speak your goals for us over our lives and let those words lead us on a path to you. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“True humility and respect for the Lord lead a man to riches, honor, and long life.” (Proverbs 22:4 TLB)
“Humility and reverence for the Lord will make you both wise and honored.” (Proverbs 15:33 TLB)
“Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to both you and your ancestors. He did it to help you realize that food isn’t everything, and that real life comes by obeying every command of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 TLB)
“No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 TLB)
Reach for More
How will you magnify God with your goals this year? Spend time in prayer and reflection, and then come back and share your goals with us on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore.
is a writer, slow marathoner, home educator and mediocre knitter. Her favorite things include books, kombucha, kitchen dancing, natural wellness, Jesus, and nachos. She spends days with her handsome hubby, three adorable kids, a flock of hens, a runaway peahen, wandering barn cat, and rescue dog. Lindsay shares ways to live simply and love extravagantly at www.lindsayhufford.com.
Photograph © Quino Al, used with permission
