Yesterday I wrote about hitting a wall. Walls are events and challenges God uses to grow you. What are some positive outcomes from going through a wall experience? Hagberg and Guelich in their book, The Critical Journey covers some of these outcomes.

Here are some of the concepts from this book:

• The wall helps you make a clear distinction between God and his spiritual truths, and your old, unmet emotional needs.
• At the wall you’ll be asked to give up some hopes, dreams, and maybe even a part of yourself.
• As you move through the wall you will find your thinking shifts. You move away from “woe is me,” suffering-thinking, and towards “Yes, I will make this change as a sacrificial offering to you, Father God.”
• You move from trying to build your self-esteem to acknowledging the work of serving God is far more satisfying than self esteem work.
• A light bulb moment occurs and you truly understand you are not really in charge of your own life, but you are in control of how you respond.
• Finally, a lifetime of emotional confusion and unanswered questions melt away. After working through a wall you experience a spiritual peace and clarity like never before.

Prayer

Father, you are in charge. I gave you my life. I know you are growing me. Lots of times I do not understand things. I find the walls and major life challenges especially confusing. I think I walk around emotionally confused a lot. And, as I’ve grown I think I am more accepting of confusion and uncertainty. I know I’ll be okay if you are with me. I love and need you. Amen.

Bible Connection

Jesus tried to teach his disciples a lesson by washing their feet. Peter resisted. Jesus said, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Let Jesus do his work in you and remember, sometimes the insights come later. (Read the passage: John 13:3-8)