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If you aren’t growing, you’re dying
Brandy, Taleen, Katie, Michelle, Elyse, Krista, Spring 1999
In unpacking the final boxes, I found stacks of old pictures, albums of college experiences, and a plethora of mission trip memories. Many might feel embarrassed if I posted the pictures from our younger years.
But I, for one, laughed at my big glasses, our 90’s haircuts and clothes, and friends who looked like mere babes before they had their own babies (who are now teenagers!).
My walk down memory lane was filled with a myriad of emotions, but the overwhelming thought I came away with was:
Thank you, Lord, that I am not the same person I used to be. Thank you for the experiences that have shaped me. Thank you for the relationships that have influenced me. And thank you for the lifelong friendships that have weathered the storms of life and grown with time.
Katie Forbess and Michelle Goff, Nov. 2013
One example of the transformation of a friendship is my relationship with IRSM Board President, Katie (Labowski) Forbess. The pictures included here are from a missionary team retreat my senior year of college (1999), a bilingual IRSM retreat in Denver after we had not seen each other for nine years (2013), and right before I moved to Searcy (2015).
I see these as a reflection of how our own relationship that has grown, of Iron Rose Sister Ministries’ transformation and growth since its beginning, and the personal growth in our respective spiritual walks. I thank God for the progression that these pictures represent. And I thank God that we are not the same people that we used to be. We may not see it in the day-to-day changes, but as we reflect back, we can see God’s hand at work to strengthen our walks with Him and one another.
Katie and Michelle, June 2015
You see, we each must continue to grow and focus on that growth—in our relationships with God and one another. Our spiritual health depends on it. Because, as with a plant, if you aren’t growing, you’re dying.
The work of redemption is behind the scenes
God, where are you? I don’t see you working. Your presence feels far from me. Have you forgotten your servant?
David asked some of these same questions throughout the book of Psalms. The man after God’s own heart struggled to know that God was near. In other Psalms, David sang God’s praises and described God’s powerful hand at work to defeat his enemies, strengthen him, and fill him with peace through provision.
It is easy to forget all God has done and a challenge to trust all that he is doing now or will do in the future. We fall victim to Satan’s lies that God is not a living, active presence in our lives—we fail to see God’s hand working all things for good (Romans 8:28).
Allow me to add some food for thought to this discussion: The book of Esther makes no mention of God in its entire twelve chapters. Does that mean that God is not present in the story? Do Esther and Mordecai save the Jewish nation or does God?
I think we would all agree that God is very present in the story of Esther. Redemption for his people would’ve been impossible without God’s intervention.
So, what if God does some of his best redemptive work behind the scenes?
God is pursuing you; he loves you with an everlasting love; his faithfulness remains through all the storms of life. As in the story of Esther, we may not hear his name directly. But when we tell our stories, his presence is evident, even if is name goes unmentioned.
Why is it so hard to trust God’s redemptive work is happening behind the scenes?
