My wife, who does a lot of spiritual direction, is right. A good deal of what people reject from their religious up-bringing revolves around ideas that they developed when they were twelve years old.
But they often spend the whole of their adulthood reacting to what they thought they knew when they were twelve.
So, with certainty, they reject God, the church, sacraments — you name it — because at the age of 12 (maybe a bit younger or a bit older) they concluded that what their faith taught was what they understood about it.
Let’s be honest: Would you invest with someone whose economic ideas took shape when they were twelve? Would you let them fly the next plane you board? Would you get on the boat they were going to navigate? Would you let them treat you, your child, or (come to that) your dog, based on what they understood about anatomy, physiology and medicine?
When we examine the ideas that govern our lives, it’s worth asking, how old are they? If they are twelve, it might be time to tell them to grow up.
God has a plan for spiritual growth. We are weak in our faith because we do not know the Scriptures. As Jesus told the men in His day they did err not knowing them. When we search the Scriptures like we are searching for hidden treasure they will be revealed to us. Our minds will be illuminated. With prayer they became real and in that reality we live, move and have our being for the Scriptures are the Word of God which has been breathed upon by the Holy Spirit. The blessed Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself but He does reveal Jesus to us. One thing is sure: God does not change. He is still King of the Nations and wants to be the King of our hearts. Do we want Him to be our Shepherd of our souls?
Do we want to continue to be children? Children are fun and often fun to be with but when a crisis strikes they look for an adult to protect them. God is searching throughout the whole earth to find people whose hearts are fixed on Him. He is the one who gives spiritual maturity but His paths are laid down in Scripture. Trust Him. He will not fail you. Turn all your cares over to Him for He cares for you. It is His desire for each of us to be strong and mighty in His Spirit as well as full of the Holy Spirit. Then we will no longer be babes feeding on the milk of the food but able to digest the strong meat which the Scriptures provide and is available to all those ready to partake. Let us start our journey today. Carol Lawson