THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWTH AND CHANGE

Have you ever felt the need to change?

Ever looked around and felt as though you’ll never catch up; like everyone else is a hundred years ahead of you? 

Have you ever wondered why the progress is so elusive? Ever out of reach? 

Like you can’t change fast enough? 

Have you ever wondered if you’ll ever “get there”?

I have! 

I heard the Spirit whisper to me,

“There’s a difference between growth and change.”

He reminded me of the many birthday cards I have written, all the text messages sent, the comments posted to people I love. 

He reminded me of the frequent sign off I use for those I believe in and see potential in.

“Please don’t ever change,” I often write. “You’re awesome!”

If you’ve known me long enough, close enough, maybe there’s been a card with those words written to you in my handwriting. 

He continued,

“Karolina, tell them I don’t want them to change; that they’re amazing! I made each one the way they are. The gifts, personality, all of it; I did that on purpose. Even the hardships they’ve walked through - I can use all that. Nothing is a mistake and nothing needs to be a mistake. I don’t want them to change who they are. Tell them the forked tongue is hissing again. The pressure to change is not from Me. Through My eyes of redemption and justification, they’re perfect just as they are.”

When I look at my own children I am reminded again of the heart of God towards us.  I do not want any one of my children to change. They’re just so divine exactly the way they are. They always have been and always will be, no matter what. I tell them often, “Please don’t ever change.” I am thrilled, however, when I see them grow. Nothing gives me more joy than seeing them head into the direction of their potential. 

You see my friend, there is a seed of Heaven inside you.

Perhaps that seed is dormant today, perhaps still beneath the surface, perhaps a tender shoot, perhaps a mature tree undergoing a pruning. That seed of Heaven is ordained and purposed by God. He has intended you.

He adores you just the way you are and has planted a seed of Himself within you. The onus is not on us to change - that would be an affront to the creation of God (Ps 139:14). The onus is on us to grow (1 Tim 4:15). 

There’s nothing you can do to make yourself right with God (Eph 2:9).  Before you did anything right, before you even admitted you needed Him, He already died for you and did everything that ever needed doing (Rom 5:8). There’s no need to do anything to change or get things right. They’re already right! You’re already perfect in Him (Heb 10:14). 

Yet, we are promised that this life is a process of transformation from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). I have always found that to be extremely good news. This salvation-life is one we work out (sometimes with trembling, sometimes with fear) (Phil 2:12).

It’s a journey.
It’s a narrative of transformation.
It’s a growing. 

The only purpose of a seed is to grow and bear fruit. That seed of Heaven inside you is intended to grow; and growth is an organic process. Growth can’t be forced, hurried or manufactured. Growth is an ordained experience resulting from connection to a life source. 

The fruit on a tree is the visible evidence of an invisible life source.

‘In the same way, our growth is the product of connection to the Holy Spirit’ (Gal 5:22-23). We grow when we are instep with Him, in partnership with Him, plugged into Him; not as an occasional power rush, but as the very source of our everyday lives. That’s when we grow. 

And we grow at a pace that is irrespective of the seedlings on either side of us. They will grow at their ordained pace and stage of maturity. You, my friend, will grow at your pace and stage of maturity. 

So today, be free from the curse of change.

Stop trying to change, catch up or “get it”. 

Instead, lean into the life source of growth. 

Settle into the soil, draw from the watercourses, press upward into the sunlight and grow. That’s all. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

There’s a huge difference between growth and change, and the onus is on you to grow.  

Has the pressure lifted? 
Perfect! 

Please don’t ever change; you’re awesome. 

But please go ahead and grow - big and strong. 

Grow!