The snow skims the top of the trees and drifts over the last of the leaves. It’s quiet and looks like not much is happening. But I know that those trees are already growing. They’ll look dormant for the winter but deep down below new life is coming.
I look up from my coffee and say to my husband, “There are really only two choices in life, aren’t there? Growth or decay.”
It’s a deep statement for a Saturday morning but I can’t shake it. Every where I look I see it.
Growth or decay.
Life or death.
It’s always been this way. All the way back in ancient Israel God encouraged His people, “Choose life that you may live.”
And choosing life always means choosing growth too.
We’re funny creatures. We want to be safe, secure, to avoid risk. When we do so, we believe that we’re preserving our lives. But we’re not. We’re actually choosing death. To not grow is to die. There is no middle ground.
Now I don’t mean taking foolish risks. What I mean is saying “yes” to God and moving forward with Him no matter what.
Through the pain.
Through the success.
Through the struggles.
Through the victories.
Whatever you do, choose growth.
And here’s the thing: like those trees, growth is not always big and flashy. It can happen quietly, almost invisibly. But it must happen.
And there’s more good news: Growth doesn’t require perfection. In fact, it cannot coexist with it. You will fail and fall and learn and get back up again. Because that’s how you grow.
I don’t know where you are today, what circumstances you’re facing, what this New Year will hold for you.
But I’m begging you, cheering for you, quietly whispering to you, “Please choose life that you may live.”
The best part of all? The responsibility for growth ultimately lies with God.
God makes things grow. {1 Cor. 3:7}
So you don’t have to make growth happen. Your role is surrender and then obedience. When you embrace those, you can’t help but grow.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.Psalm 1:3
Make 2013 a year of growth.
A year of life.
Of truly living.
Not sure how to grow? The God-sized Dreams series happening here every Tuesday can help with your next steps.
