Trusting 6

 I’ve spent plenty of time passively complaining about a long list of issues. But waiting for God to do something without me willing to participate in His agenda has been eye opening. Waiting does seem like a prison sentence. I’ve never spent him in jail, thankfully, but after visiting someone in the penitentiary my eyes were opened. I can only imagine what serving a sentence would be like. Joseph must have been a godly man who was always learning, leaning on God’s strength. 

“The chief barrier to effective discipleship is not that people do not have the ability to become spiritually mature, but they lack the passion, perspective, priorities, and perseverance to develop their spiritual lives. Most Christians know that spiritual growth is important, personally beneficial, and expected, but few attend churches that push them to grow or provide the resources necessary to facilitate that growth. Few believers have relationships that hold them accountable for spiritual development. In the end it boils down to personal priorities. For most of us, regardless of our intellectual assent to the importance of Christian growth, our passions lay elsewhere—and our schedule and energy follow those passions. Most believers, it turns out, are satisfied to engage in a process without regard for the product.” - Bill Hull, The Disciple-Making Pastor: Leading Others on the Journey of Faith