Grow Up!

I was feeding my baby girl a bottle of formula when God gave me a visual I will never forget.

It was nearly bedtime, and I sat quietly rocking my 6-month-old, studying her sweet face. It was then that God showed me my resemblance to my adopted daughter.

While not audible, I heard Him say, “You’re her spitting image. You’ve known me since you were 17, and now at age 31, you’re still an infant drinking milk. It’s time to grow up! Move on to solid food!”

It was true.

Apart from the beautiful blue-eyed baby staring up at me, my life was an ugly mess. I had no one to blame but myself. I was far from the path that a committed follower of Jesus walks.

I can assure you that my decision to follow Christ was sincere. I was raised in church and gave my heart to Jesus with my eyes wide open. I had been taught the truths of God’s Word. I had even memorized some of them. But just months after my decision, I took a detour. I chose the road traveled by many others. It was inviting, seemed easier.

Along the way I made my plans and worked hard to make them happen. I let my wants crowd out any desires that God had for me.

I was young and energetic, in excellent health. I anticipated many years ahead of me. There would be time for Jesus later.

I graduated from college and got married. I put my education to work for me and got a job at a newspaper. I worked hours on end and rose quickly in my career. I am ashamed to say that I loved it so much, my identity was my job title. I lived like I wanted, how I wanted.

Then, I lost my job and my marriage. I failed.

Instinctively, I ran home to my earthly daddy, seeking love, care and comfort for my baby and me. For a while I continued to live my way, running from my problems. However, my desperate choices drove me into a pit from which I could not crawl out. I realized my choices were my own. I didn’t know who I was anymore. Even my parents couldn’t give me what I really needed.

I had come to the end of myself. For the first time in years there was nowhere to look but heavenward. I went back to church. I listened to the pastor preach God’s truths. I let those truths penetrate my hard, yet hurting heart. Timidly, I started talking to God, beginning most of my prayers with, ‘Hey God, do you remember me?’

I knew I needed rescuing - not by a man - some knight in shining armor. I needed a Savior - The Savior.

So, I sought the Lord, and He heard, and He answered, says the song, “Trust in God.”

My rescuer showed up. He used my little one to show me a picture of my spiritually neglected self. She mirrored my infancy.

Obviously, there is a difference in a school teacher’s lesson plans and how they are applied to students in an elementary class versus an advanced class.

Yet, every student must be teachable if he is to learn. Closed ears and inattentiveness to the teacher ultimately results in failure.

I am a good example. I had plenty of time to mature, but had not. Due to my lack of attention to God, I was unteachable. Because I had failed to internalize the deep spiritual truths of God, I was malnourished. God was pointing me to the bible verse, “leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.” (Hebrews 6:1)

He was telling me to grow in my spiritual walk - to build on the basic foundations of my Christianity. It was past time for me to graduate from sipping milk to digesting solid food. It was time for me to advance, or as the bible says, grow up in Christ and not remain like a child. (Ephesians:14-15.)

Eating the meat of God’s Word nourishes and matures a Christian. Sure, I was walking on the right path again, but I needed to spend consistent time in God’s presence, study His Word and be in prayer. I needed to gobble up His profound wisdom and teachings in order to grow as a Christian. To avoid any more self-guided trips on my spiritual journey I also needed to listen to Him and follow His guidance. He has my best interests at heart.

My daughter’s final slurp from the bottle brought my attention back to her. I put the bottle down, burped her and held her until she drifted off to sleep.

When I stood up from the rocking chair to put her to bed I was a different person. I finally had hope for the growth that was about to take place in me. I had a resolve to honor my commitment to follow Jesus. I felt grateful that God had drawn me back to Him using as an illustration the child He had so graciously given me just five months earlier.

My daughter’s adoption story is for another time, but even then God was in every detail despite my waywardness. Looking back, I should have named her “Grace.”

Of course, my sweet baby would grow and thankfully, so would I. Before long, she was eating chicken nuggets from her happy meal and I was devouring the satisfying food that is God’s Word. Until she married and moved away, God would use my daughter many times to teach me about my relationship with Him, and the infinite depths of His love for me.

Additional Help Verses:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.’” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16

“…have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” ~ Ephesians 3:18-19