In her book No Greater Love, Rebecca McLaughlin writes: “I thoroughly believe that God directs my life, but rarely does He let me see the script.”*

Can I get an Amen?!

Like McLaughlin, I thoroughly believe that God directs my life. Perhaps you also agree that God directs your life.

When she says that God doesn’t always let her see the script, I think she’s commenting on the fact that she needs to trust God even when it’s hard to make sense of things in her day-to-day life. You and I can probably relate to that as well.

What am I supposed to do when the path is unclear?
Where is God when my family is experiencing hardship?
How can I make sense of this stressful situation?

All of this highlights the importance of mature Christians in your life.

You have your perspective. They have their perspective. Together, you can learn more about God’s perspective.

In Ephesians 4 we learn about the body of Christ and how all of the different parts (people) have a role to play. We are to strive for “unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (verse 13). When that happens we will no longer be “infants, tossed back and forth by the waves…” (verse 14)

The passage highlights not only that we are all important in the body, but that maturity in Christ is the point. It makes sense, therefore, that if other people are more mature than you are, you are in a great position to learn from them if you are open to it.

The challenges and hardships of life can be tricky to navigate. So can the everyday things. We need cheerleaders, encouragers, coaches and honest friends who will call us on our waywardness or backsliding.

Faith is a team sport, not just an individual sport.

Maybe you’re the one who needs a mature Christian to help you. Maybe you’re the mature Christian who needs to help someone else.

You have your perspective. They have their perspective. Together, you can learn more about God’s perspective.

---

Notes and extra content:

—NEW: “Firm Faith in the Resurrection.” As promised, here is the post and podcast which summarizes my recent 2-part series on the resurrection. Click here.

–*Rebecca McLaughlin, No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship (Moody, 2003), 10.

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on April 22, 2024.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.