Trust in the Slow Work of God
“How did we ever get the idea that God would supply us on- demand quick fixes, that God is merely a rescuer and not a midwife.” Sue Monk Kidd
"Above all, trust in the slow work of God. . . Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.
“Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are capable of, even if it be like a grain mustard seed.” Thomas Kelly
Working on a project about spiritual formation for Cru.org and I’m struck again. Again. This soul work is so very, very slow. Very. The mystics among us who dwell comfortably in deserts, who even thrive in in-between spaces, urge us to breathe, to relax and settle in. It’s going to be a long road.
Professor and author Dallas Willard believed that we will continue to grow in eternity, that heaven is not a “cosmic carwash.” We don’t become instantly complete. The road continues.
Dr. Gary Black spent Dallas’ last days on earth chronicling his mentor’s transition to heaven and final thoughts: “Heaven is . . . a place of continual learning and growth. An oak tree sprout can be perfect in its development, but yet not complete. So, too, we can be perfected when sin is removed from us, while still having room to grow and learn. He believed that in heaven we’ll learn to live our entire existence under the guidance of Christ.”
With eternity to grow and learn, I long to “settle in” and prepare for the long journey. When I was training for a marathon a million years ago, we would have our longest runs on Saturday. Every Friday night I would begin to get fearful I couldn't do it. I wouldn’t sleep well; and then the alarm would go off super early, and even as I put one foot in front of the other in the dark, I was anxious.
Somehow as I began to move, a calm would come over me as I considered the road before me: I’m going to be out here for a long time, I'd say to myself, maybe hours. I can’t go any faster than I can go. I will finish if I settle in and just keep moving. On my Alaskan race day, I resorted to simple facts: If I keep moving--over time--I will finish the race!
Perhaps you’re impatient with yourself or others. You wonder why you’re not further along the transformation journey. I remember as a young missionary calling a mentor because I was so concerned about the little progress I seemed to be making. “You’re right on time,” she said. I exhaled deeply and remembered the lessons of the long run.
I have repeated that line to more young missionaries and friends than I can count. Perhaps it's for you (and me again) today.
Settle in. Just keep moving. You’re right on time.
JUDY