Spiritual Change Isn’t Magical

By Liberty McArtor Published on January 24, 2018

I wasn’t born a redhead, but perhaps I should’ve been, because I do have a temper. 

So when I was dating my future husband, I was prone to picking bones that had already been picked dry. I knew this was a fault, but tried not to worry about it. Because I always thought, “When I’m married, I’ll be kinder. I’ll be gentle and patient with my husband!” 

Ha!

I remember another recurring thought I had as an adolescent, often burdened as I struggled in my faith. “When I’m grown, I’ll have my faith all figured out. I’ll be a good Christian, read my Bible every day and won’t be afraid of the things I don’t understand anymore.”

Well, “grown,” came. And what I envisioned is hardly the case. I’ve been open about my spiritual struggles in college. Now I’m in a better place, but I still have questions, struggles and even fears.

I could go on to list many other ways I’ve thought I would magically improve upon reaching a certain milestone. But I’ve continually been disappointed to learn that it just doesn’t work that way.

Habits

Science tells us that new habits are formed by repeating an action over and over. New neural patterns must be formed. What about spiritual habits? Do we think that we can acquire the mastery of certain virtues overnight, simply because of some life event?

There’s a reason we’re told to meditate on God’s Word “day and night.” To “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” To “pray without ceasing.” There’s a theme there. Constant. Repeating. Nonstop. 

Becoming more like Jesus only happens when we actually spend time with Him and study his Word — often. Like the habit of going to the gym only comes when you actually go — a lot.

How can I expect to grow in my faith without putting in the time to grow? How can I expect to suddenly read my Bible everyday if I make no effort to form that habit?

And how can I expect to control my temper when I’ve spent no time with God, regularly asking him to transform my heart?

Motivated By Changed Circumstances

I think we learn this faulty way of thinking through certain stories. We’ve all heard of the man who changed his ways when he fell in love, or the woman who got her life together after finding out she was pregnant. The stakes were suddenly higher. There was no more time for dilly-dally. 

And sure, some circumstances do motivate us to get moving. They don’t usually transform us on their own, though. They merely give us the impetus we need to pursue that habit — or that holiness — in earnest.

God calls us to follow him faithfully right now, thus allowing Him to change us day by day — no matter our outward circumstances.

But as I’ve learned, we can’t depend on circumstances. Sometimes they motivate us, but other times, as I keep finding, they don’t. We think they will. But what ends up prevailing are — surprise! — our old habits. And then we get discouraged, wondering why we aren’t behaving any better yet.

The Stakes Are Already High

Besides, waiting around for circumstances to change before we start obeying God isn’t right. God doesn’t call us to start living for Him in earnest or following certain commands some time in the future when the right circumstances motivate us. He calls us to follow him faithfully right now, thus allowing Him to change us day by day — no matter our outward circumstances. 

You know why? The stakes are already high. They may feel higher to us once we’ve hit a certain milestone — for me, “grown up” and married. For others, in love or with a baby on the way, or nearing one’s deathbed after years of selfish pursuits.

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But salvation is an urgent matter. Living our salvation is an urgent matter. We don’t know what life will bring, or how many days on earth we have left. Why waste time that could be spent in devoted service to God waiting around for some motivation that may or may not appear? 

This isn’t an easy lesson to learn. Every time relearn it, I realize how much devotion to God I’ve put off while waiting for the right circumstances, or the next magical milestone.

I don’t want to do that anymore.

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