As Christians, we are all equally longing to prosper in the fruits of the spirit. This familiar list contains some of the most desirable traits any human could want to possess. Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all just out of reach most days for anyone of us. But regardless, we are called to exhibit these traits as we live out the christian life. If these traits aren’t unachievable, what is the point to even trying to live the christian life anyways?
Are we willing to wait?
Every self help book ever written will give you millions of practical ways to become who you are “meant to be”. I know i have personally exhausted myself trying to achieve these things, and regardless of the guarantee, nothing seems to stick. Why is it so hard? The problem I believe is that we are not willing to wait on a good thing. We see small changes fast, then when they we inventively fail, we give up trying all together. The problem is we are not waiting on the Lord to change us. We are relying on our own will power. Only the change he wills changes us at heart level. The Bible tells us we are broken. You can’t fix anything with broken tools. That is all we have to use. You need a carpenter that knows how to mend them and then use them properly. When we wait broken at his feet he can’t help but fix us, leading to growth beyond what we could ever will ourselves. He loves us beyond what we can imagine. We have to choose to position ourselves there. The Lord wants us to choose him. He can’t completely fix us without all the pieces. Will he be an ornament on a put together exterior, or the trunk and roots, powering us from the center . His living spirit in us produces good fruit.
Wait expectantly!
As with any good fruit, growth takes time. Faith is the fertilizer needed. The Lord promises to put his hands in the soil as we seek him. One day bringing us to completion, offering us a 100% guarantee!