Maybe those words reminded you of something and got you singing an Elton John classic. Personally, I prefer the version you can find on the film – Sing – performed by Taron Egerton (one of my most favourite films).

I found myself twitching with quite a bit of nervousness the other day because, as a family, we live by faith: things had gotten VERY tight for us, yet again, and we weren’t doing so well with that reality!

Now, it isn’t that God is cruel and wants us to suffer. But, just like building muscles on our body – if you want bigger muscles to lift heavier loads – you need to risk damaging your muscles, in order for your body to fill in those damaged parts which creates the additional muscle you were hoping for. Building muscle comes at a cost!

Physical growth can be very painful – just spend time with a child struggling with growth pains!

Spiritual growth can be painful too – just ask, well, me…I’ve got stories that would make your toes curl, but they always have a very happy ending – the toe curling parts are always just me not trusting God, yet again, despite Him being someone I know I can trust and making promises to me in scripture that are as sure as anything gets!

What’s that got to do with me?

Hebrew 11 verse 1 says this:

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

If you ‘want more of Jesus’ then you need to reach the end of yourself; your own ability; your own resources; your own strength – why would you need more of God, if you weren’t actually in need of Him? God is no fool, and won’t force Himself where we choose to do things on our own.

God made us to be extremely capable – we’re made in His image after all. So if you want more of Jesus, you need less of you! And that’s waiting at the end of your comfort zone.

If you truly want to know God better, what are you giving up to make space for that closer relationship you’re seeking?

I really wanted to jump to safety recently, but I chose to stand. Jumping would have placed me outside of God’s plan for my life and would have prevented me seeing yet another PERFECTLY timed miracle of God’s provision – the sort that can ONLY point back to Him and His love for us – His children.

I’m not super brave, or have a special trick that allows me to keep standing – more often than not it’s just me, with knees buckling, with laboured breathing and a knot in my stomach hoping I didn’t just screw up the lives of all in my little world.

You have a daily choice to make too. Will you jump to safety, or stand and wait for safety to come to you.

Andy B