New Experiences

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

“They won’t listen to me. They can’t even have a conversation. Anything that would make them question or consider another way to think or believe they dismiss without discussing it,” my husband, Kyle, lamented to me about a family member he loves dearly.

My husband has done a fair amount of reading over the past several years and has grown in his faith and how he views God and others. It means a lot to him to be able to share his heart with people, but there are those in our closest circles who would prefer not to hear.

As I thought more about his comments and the person he was referencing, I said, “You know, I don’t think it’s just topics of faith they don’t want to discuss. That person has done the same actions for many years and isn’t open to new things, whether it’s food, trips, or even simple changes to their daily schedule. If we want to learn and grow, we have to be willing to try new things, and I don’t see that person being open to new experiences.”

He nodded in agreement as we prayed together again for them, asking God for wisdom and compassion to love them well while continuing to speak the truth.

It’s easy to get into a rut in life. And although there’s nothing wrong with routine, sometimes we get so stuck that we are unwilling to try unfamiliar things or be open to alternative ideas. But Scripture is clear: we must keep putting all we’re learning into practice. We never fully arrive here on earth as followers of Jesus; there is always room to grow. And I am grateful for the assurance that when fear tries to stop us, the God of peace is with us.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Try something new—a food, a place you’ve never visited before, or an activity you’ve been interested in but haven’t taken the first step to try yet. Express your thanks to God for continued opportunities to grow and learn.