Growth is a strange concept. You can growth physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Growth can happen over long periods of time, or it can happen over night. It can either be very apparent or not noticeable to our own eye. What I am coming to find out is that growth can be a wonderful thing or it can be detrimental.
These past three months in Guatemala have been eventful to say the least. My every day life may have seemed pretty boring on the exterior, but God was truly working in me and the others around me. Coming on to the race, I knew I was going to grow and change but I didn’t really understand what that meant or looked like. I didn’t realize how hard growth was going to be; just because I decided to leave the states for 9 months doesn’t mean that growth is guaranteed. Growth is a choice. You have to choose to grow and accept the challenges you face each day because those challenges are what causes you to grow. Growth doesn’t happen when we sit in our comfortable bubbles. When things are easy and simple it human nature to be content with that and to not strive for more. As much as I hate to admit it, God calls us deeper and as humans we fall short of that calling. Its hard to accept challenges, conflict, and uneasiness. But these are the things that shape us and grow us into the person God has called us to be.
God has used these three months in Guatemala to start the change and growth in my life. I am not nearly to where I would like to be and I don’t think I ever will be. But I came to the realization, as I was stepping on to the plane to Malaysia, I didn’t need this 9 month journey to grow and change me. All the progress Ive made spiritually, and emotionally could have taken place in my home back in Charleston but I wasn’t willing pursue it. I had this mindset that in order to grow spiritually I needed to see miracles and go to other countries to talk about jesus but I was completely wrong. Yes, being out of your comfort zone does help speed up the process but you don’t need it. God is constantly using our circumstances to grow us whether we are sitting in the same classroom everyday or living in a tent in a foreign country; we just need to be willing to open your eyes to that.
Guatemala has taught me many things but the most valuable lesson I am walking away with is that in order to grow in any area of your life whether it is spiritually, emotionally or physically you have to pursue that growth not just sit and wait for something to happen. I am beyond thankful for my time in Guate and I am excited to take this lesson along with many others into Malaysia!
