A friend confessed, “Pastor I’ve already blown my discipline of not doing what I told the Lord I would do to honor Him this Lent.” This lead to a conversation about the frustrations regarding our inability to overcome bad habits. He stunned me with the statement: “I expected seeking God would make more of a difference in my life.” So I told him about a strain of Bamboo which requires daily watering and fertilizing for five years.   In spite of the constant attention, nothing shows, not even a little sprout. Then suddenly a bamboo shoot begins growing, as much as four feet a day! In a short period the bamboo stalk will grow to 90 Feet.

This kind of persistence (without seeing results) is especially difficult for those of us who live in an age of microwaves, fast foods, quick fixes and instantaneous results. Often the Lord works with us in a similar manner, calling us to share our faith with someone, or pour energy into a difficult person with no visible changes evident. Then suddenly our faithfulness produces growth like we’ve never known before.

If you are struggling or enduring mundane obedience, trust that God will use your trials and spiritual routine for maximum spiritual benefit. Our faith is extremely exciting because the living God is ready to move in and all around us.

What about letting God down with our failed commitments? He is proud of us for trying to please Him. Our faith is about watching the graceful hand of God move through us, sometimes strengthening us, other times forgiving and restoring us, but God is always for you!