If you’ve been around here for awhile, you know I’m a military spouse. Before we moved to El Paso about three months ago, we were stationed at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion in North Georgia which is where the 2nd Phase of US Army Ranger School takes place, also known as Mountain Phase. I’ve been working on my health and fitness for a solid 11 years now, and during that time I have been on a quest to become a pseudo runner. Don’t worry, I won’t be winning trophies anytime soon, because my primary running goals are to finish the race, not break my face and not meet Jesus in the process.
Before we moved, I signed up to do the Ranger Run at Camp Merrill’s Open House. It was my first trail run, but I wasn’t TOO worried.
Well, turns out that when Army Rangers plan a 5k, instead of being the typical 3.1 miles, the distance will actually be closer to 4.5 miles, and include running up a mountain with two water crossings. Surprise!
Near the end of the run, we had to run in a single file line through the brush. In front of me was a boy, probably 10 or 11 years old, holding his own running with his family. I saw a water crossing coming up, and quickly learned that this boy had the same strategy as I did—jump across it, because running in wet shoes is no bueno.
Unfortunately, he didn’t quite make the jump. He landed squarely in the mud. PLOP. When he landed, his body kept going, but his shoes did not.
By some miracle of the Lord himself, I managed to NOT plow into him when he stopped so suddenly.
The good news is that with the help of his mother and a sturdy stick, they were able to unsuction his shoes and we all finished the race (Albeit 1.5 miles longer than planned, but still, we finished, wet, muddy shoes and all.)
Most of us have likely gotten stuck in the mud before, whether literally like the boy in the Ranger Run, or figuratively, now as adults and followers of Christ. Through this mini series, we will Find Freedom, Fearlessly Focus & Flourish in Faith.
So, where do we start? Well, much like I did on that last unexpected mile and a half of that Ranger run, when we consider our current level of spiritual maturity, the best place to start is asking ourselves “Where am I right now?”
Spiritual maturity is somewhat hard to quantify and we often don’t know we are “stuck” without some serious prayer and evaluation. As a Spiritual Life Coach, PhD student in Pastoral Care & Counseling, and huge administrative nerd, I have created a makeshift tool that might give you a little bit of insight as to where you find yourself on your spiritual journey.
Now presenting: The Spiritual Maturity Continuum, fondly known as the SMC.
Maturing in Christ is obviously not an exact science, but hopefully the SMC can help up visualize where we are and were God might be calling us to go. On the left hand side, we find spiritual bondage, living fully in the world. When we are stuck in the world, it could be that we haven’t yet said yes to Christ, or perhaps we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior but we aren’t really moving forward.
This can also happen to maturing believers when “junk” from our past shows up, usually at the most inopportune time. Our past “junk” can be any number of things and it really has potentially get us stuck. This is the point when considering outside help, such as counseling, might be helpful.
Before you think that counseling is only for “major” issues, let me explain. We all have junk. Every. Single. One of us. Understand that counseling helps us deal with the past and brings us to the present, where we are right now I our lives. It can be an avenue to freedom. Sure, I’m biased, but I think everyone on the planet could benefit from a season of counseling done it, and don’t regret a single minute of it.
Coaching, on the other hand, takes us from the present to move us forward. As we move toward the right side of the SMC, that is where coaching could be helpful. Coaching is just like the horse and buggy coach of the past, moves us from point A to Point B.
Spiritual growth is like learning to drive. Getting a driver’s license can give us such great freedom! We can go places and do things we’ve never done before! This is also our hope as we also mature in Christ. However, there is always potential slide off the plotted course. Or our junk shows up and gives us a flat tire. Or as a new teen driver, we decided take a backroad right after a rainstorm. That car is gonna get stuck. And being a teenager who has to make that phone call to our dad when we’ve gotten the car stuck is not on the Top 10 most enjoyable life experiences. (Ask me how I know).
Fortunately, when we are feeling spiritually stuck, we CAN call out to our heavenly Father for help. He won’t get angry with us. He’s not going to condemn us. He won’t tell us, “Well, you got yourself into this mess, figure out how to get out of it.” And literally thank God for that!
We’ve all been there. Completely stuck, in bondage to past sin or a hurt, habit or hang-up. I’m so grateful that the words of Psalm 118:5 are just as true today as they were thousands of years ago: “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”
When we are spiritually stuck, God will tenderly reach down and lift us up. He will free our tires, shoes or every other part of us that is bogged down spinning in the mess, going nowhere fast. As it says in Psalm 40:2, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Once God helps us get unstuck, he cleans us up by giving us the tools to know the truth. This might happen through another person, such as through professional counselor or a Christian coach. It could also be less formal like seeking someone to disciple you (or someone for you to disciple!) Finding freedom in truth to stay unstuck can come in a variety of forms. Jesus told us in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Find Freedom
Are you feeling stuck? If so, where?
What would true freedom in Christ look like for you
Identifying where we “fall” on the SMC is just the first step. Next, we need to fearless focus on the One who sets us free. (Join us this coming Wednesday for Part 2 of this mini-series!)
Growing in Christ
