You Can’t Rush Sanctification

Alex Bangle on April 6, 2023

As Christians, we often struggle with impatience when it comes to our growth in faith. We want to become more Christ-like, to be better people, and to overcome our weaknesses and struggles. But like a child who must grow and mature before becoming an adult, we too must wait for our spiritual growth to unfold in its own time.

Sanctification is the process by which we become more like Christ, and it is a lifelong journey. We cannot rush it or force it to happen faster than it is meant to. Instead, we must trust in God’s timing and have faith that he is working in us, even when we cannot see it.

As we grow in Christ, we will face pain, strife, and failures. But we will also experience successes and moments of great joy. Through it all, we must remember that each experience is a part of our spiritual growth and that God is using them to shape us into the people he wants us to be.

Just as a child fights over things that we know are not important, we too can become distracted by things that do not matter in the grand scheme of things. It is important to keep our focus on God and to trust in his plan for our lives. When we do, we can rest assured that he is using everything for our good and his glory.

So if you are feeling impatient in your spiritual growth, remember that sanctification cannot be rushed. Trust in God’s timing, and allow him to work in you through both the joys and struggles of life. As you do, you will continue to grow in Christ and become the person God created you to be.

The Journey Home

Alex Bangle on January 16, 2023

Life’s Journey

I was reminded of this and how we are so lacking in our understanding of life as we were driving home the other way with our baby boy Ezra in the back. A mix of emotions, talking to himself, upset and eventually sleeping. It hit me that we are often like that and our perspective so limited. For our baby boy he only knows the car seat he is in and his immediate feelings of tired, hunger or wanting to see mommy or daddy. For the adults in the front it’s a 16 minute drive home, the journey is clear. We know where we are going. We know why we are going and what the plans are for the future, when we get home. But for the child, he does not know, could he even know if he was told?

God the Driver

This makes me think about spirituality and life, what if God is the adult in the front seat and we the child buckled in to the car seat. Think about this, we experience real emotions and feelings and within what we are able to experience life’s journey. We may know we’re going somewhere, but it’s hard to tell 16 years into the future, or in God’s eyes 16 minutes. We experience many feelings and emotions, maybe we ask “where is God”, we’ll he’s driving the vehicle in the front seat ensuring a safe trip home, you’re just having trouble seeing him right now.

Dangers of Life

You can continue with this; think of all the dangers of the road and life that the mom and dad protect the child of, most of which the child has no clue. How many things around us do we take for granted, because we do not see them. Maybe we cannot even see them? How many things does God protect us from. How many other things do we miss if we do not look around, blinded by our limitations of being ‘in the car seat’. It is mind blowing when you consider how many things happen every day that we just cannot grasp.

One Day

Why do the parents protect and care for their child? Because they love them and they always will, if they are good parents. The child may not always see it that way. Throughout the life’s journey the child will rebel, not understand and even get angry. The good parent continues on in their love, knowing one day they will understand better. I believe that is the same with God, He continues to love us, knowing in the day or rather age to come, we will understand the things he did, or why he did not do.

Adopted by God [Video]

Alex Bangle on April 25, 2019

Ephesians 1:1-14. Had the privilege of teaching at a youth group in April on how God’s love lead to his adoption of us as His children. Our adoption was planned before the foundation of the world, through this adoption we have the privilege of calling our God, Father.

Children of God

Alex Bangle on January 20, 2011

I don’t know if that title has a beautiful sound to you, but it sure does to me. It’s been a while since I shared a song that has touch my heart so, these song lyrics are by Third Day and truly provide joy in my heart when I reflect on them. Just for me to realize that God loved me enough to adopt me as Child is amazing. “Children of God, sing your song and rejoice, For the love that He has given us all, Children of God, by the blood of His Son, We have been redeemed and we can be called Children of God…A mystery is revealed to the universe, The Father above has proven His love, Now we are free from the judgment that we deserve, And so we are called the children of God” – Children of God – Third Day.