Stress is easy to quantify when we are discussing things such as money, career and dating. We hold somewhat concrete images in our minds when fretting or worrying about the prevalent life issues we deal with on a daily basis.
The topic of our spiritual maturity is more elusive and harder to wrap our minds around. Life throws curves and twists and turns our way, but when we maneuver our way down the path God has us on with a focused eye on the throne, those curves and twists are more manageable. You might even begin to find joy within life struggles, knowing that the King sees your drama, He hears your pleas, and He is more than able to take the wheel and drive your car down life’s hairy roadways. (Please forgive me if you now have Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” stuck in your head. There could be worse songs to replay in your brain over and over!)
I’d like to define the term spiritual maturity in order to keep us from thinking it is something unattainable or a label that only studied theologians claim. Some of my most spiritually mature people I know are my 20-something friends whose fiery hearts for Jesus and passion to serve Him well qualify them to be labeled mature in my book, regardless of their age. For our conversation, let’s say that a spiritually mature person is someone who:
• Is in continual motion toward the throne of her King.
• Has a heart that sees its faults and readily owns up to its mistakes, knowing he is forgiven because Jesus loved him so much He died on the cross for him.
• Questions Jesus and evaluates her faith every day with assurance that questions are healthy and acceptable.
• Habitually opens her Bible with reverence and desires that the Word of God flow into every area of her life. She never ceases to spend time with Him; and if she does neglect this quality time, she knows she is always welcome right back to the throne.
• Loves others more than himself because he knows we are all created and loved by our almighty King.
Does this definition sit well with you? We all have room to grow when it comes to believing in Jesus in every stress point of our lives. Dring this growth process, please celebrate the connections you’ve already made with the Lord and look ahead for new and exciting detours; twists and turns are awaiting you.
In our working definition of spiritual maturity, I proposed that growth is defined by a continual motion toward the throne; a daily approach to worship—somehow, someway—by any method that keeps us in constant movement toward our King. As we move toward our King, He stretches us, teaches us, warns us, often corrects us, but continually matures us. A stagnant faith is cured by daily and sometimes hourly worship of Jesus, our Master. One day our journey to the throne will come to total fruition when we see Him face to face. In fact, one day everyone, whether they submit to their Adonai, Master, in this life, will acknowledge that He is King. When that day comes, I’m excited to see Jesus’ shining face, and I look forward to praising Him in person.
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever'” (
Today, let’s begin the celebration. Let’s accept the freedom gifted to us when we approach the throne of our Adonai, Master, not afraid of the fact that we are submitting control to Him. The joy comes in seeing the wonders He works in our lives when all praise, honor and control are laid down before the throne during worship.
This article excerpted from Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties in a Decade of Drama by Sarah Francis Martin. Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. ©2012. Used with permission.
