We live in a society that doesn’t like to wait for things. We want what we want, when we want it. Unfortunately, many Christians bring that same mentality to their walk with God. They expect spiritual growth to be immediate, and when it isn’t, they become very frustrated. However, we might be able to find some encouragement in looking at Jesus’s earthly parents. Luke 2:33 says, “And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.” One thing that we see in Luke 2 is that while Mary and Joseph may have had some idea of who Jesus was, it wasn’t a complete knowledge of who He was. Earlier in the chapter it says that Mary kept all these things in her heart and pondered them. In our text, we see that both Mary and Joseph were amazed at what was being said about their son.
Here is the encouragement, spiritual growth is a process for everyone, including Jesus’ parents. While we may want to instantly be spiritually wise, it is a process. The apostle Paul says it is a process that is lifelong in Philippians 1:6 which says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” While this may frustrate you a little, it should actually encourage you. If you aren’t growing spiritually the way that you expected, understand that it is a process. God will not give us more spiritual wisdom than we can handle, and He knows what we can handle. Jesus said this to His disciples on the night that He was betrayed. As Jesus was with them, He said, “I have many more things that I want to tell you, but you aren’t able to handle them right now” (John 16:12). While God is the One in charge of giving us spiritual wisdom, it is our responsibility to trust God no matter what. We can trust Him, because He is good and He is all-knowing. Trust God to grow you, and trust Him while He is growing you.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin