“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
Spiritual growth doesn’t happen through shortcuts. Think about Job, who spent 30 chapters wrestling with his friends and with God Himself. What if Job had been able to ask ChatGPT his burning questions and received theologically sound answers in seconds? He would have missed the entire journey that God used to deepen his faith and reveal Himself in profound ways. The wrestling matters. The struggle produces something in us that instant answers never could. Endurance must do its complete work, and that takes time, effort, and perseverance.
When we’re studying Scripture or facing difficult questions about our faith, there’s a real temptation to immediately ask AI for the answer. But what happens when we sit with the text ourselves? What happens when we pray, think, discuss with other believers, and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth? We develop spiritual muscles. We learn to recognize God’s voice. We grow in wisdom and discernment. This week, when you encounter something in God’s Word that confuses you or challenges you, resist the urge to immediately outsource your thinking. Sit with it. Meditate on it. Pray through it. Talk with a mentor or friend. Let the struggle do its sanctifying work in your life.
Reflect:
- Where are you tempted to take shortcuts in your spiritual growth? What would the longer, harder road look like?
- Think of a time when wrestling through something difficult produced growth in your life. How can you apply that experience to your current challenges?
- Ask God for patience and perseverance to wrestle through the hard things rather than seeking easy answers, trusting that He’s using the process to shape you.
