“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3)
My oldest son Paxton’s incessant need for my attention in the car has me feeling thankful for my newborn. Oftentimes, Paxton’s chatting turns to demands, and those demands can be hard to fill while I’m turning the wheel. Thankfully, my newborn loves the car – he doesn’t make a peep. Now as I traverse the toddler years, I find myself thankful for the stage that my baby is in. The truth is, I’ve gained perspective. I’ve found myself thinking “Wow, this newborn stage can be pretty easy compared to two-year old temper tantrums.”
As I reflect on the new insight I’ve received, I realize it’s important for me to be thankful for the stage I’m in. If I’m feeling this way in the short-term, how much more perspective will I have gained years from now?
Though these young years with kids seem hard and exhausting, one day I’ll have gained a new perspective. As I look back at my life, I can see where God has worked everything for his good. When I was in it, the situation seemed so difficult, but as I gained wisdom, I could see even the hardest of times worked out perfectly in God’s plan.
God calls me to look ahead with the same confidence – he has worked in the past, and he owns my future. Waiting is the game, and patience is the goal.
Consider a newborn baby who is provided with exactly what they need. In a similar way, God knows what we will be able to handle with his grace at a certain time. As we grow in maturity, we enter difficult seasons. But because of Christ, we enter them with more knowledge, wisdom, and insight.
You would think two kids would have me dizzy, and sometimes it does! But instead of being overwhelmed, I also consider how my first son prepared me for my second. In the same way, God prepares us – in every season – for the next season.
Application: Whenever you feel hopeless, look back at the way God has carried you through. Each stage has prepared you for the next. Look at how each season has been different, whether you were fed spiritual milk, baby food, or real food. God has nourished you in the ways that serve you best.
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