First week of school.
Burst of excitment, energy, determination, and passion. 

What happens to this first burst?

This week I’m heading up north to plan a couple of conferences with my Epiphaneia friends.  I’m excited to go and hang out with my friends, I’m excited to think about the Kingdom with them, but I certainly don’t feel that first burst that I felt during the initial weeks when we stayed up in the wee hours of the morning discussing our dreams and visions for the company.  In the same way, a couple of months will pass and the same children, who couldn’t wait to dig into a fresh year of school, will be begging for Christmas holidays to begin even a day earlier. 

“God builds our faith by putting it to the test, by trying it” – Rick Warren

The first burst inevitably gives way to pattern, structure, habit, discipline, and commitment.  You could look at that and say that it is a bad thing, kind of like the way we can be quick to blanket tradition as a bad thing.  It certainly doesn’t feel as good as that first burst.  However, it is amidst the discipline and the commitment that we show our character, that we are pushed toward maturity.  I wouldn’t consider that a bad thing. 

I think that the first burst we feel as we begin a new adventure or challenge is incredibly important to the process of growth because it gives us the courage to start.  Starting can feel overwhelming, as we think of all the assignments still left to hand in, all the hours of class to go in the year, all the uncertainty of a new venture, or even how incredibly dirty that room we have to clean up is.  That first burst of energy gets us beyond the debilitating power of procrastination, and is therefore; incredibly useful. 

As long as we see it for what it is…a burst.  All bursts will fade and if we do not replace it with something like determination, discipline, and responsibility, the task itself will fade along with it. 

But do not lose heart, because through difficult times, when the energy and passion just don’t seem to be there, we excercise our faith.  We are forced to look to and lean on the Father and this builds our trust in Him.  We are made more and more into the likeness of Christ.  Our Father who sees us is well pleased with this type of faith. 

Here are some words from pastor and author Rick Warren on the issue: 

“God builds our faith by putting it to the test, by trying it. Faith is like a muscle and when it’s stretched and it’s pulled then it develops. When you test your muscles against weights then your muscles develop. And your faith develops as it is tested.  You don’t develop your faith just sitting on your blessed assurance in church. James 1:3 says this ‘The testing of your faith develops perseverance so that you may be mature and complete.’ He says the purpose of these tests is that our faith, our perseverance will grow and we will become mature and complete.”

May we enjoy the high of the first burst, and stick it out when it fades.  Father, grow our faith through testing, and be our strength when passion and energy weaken.  We long to be mature and complete, we long for Your smile.  Amen.