We can only go as far as we’re willing to grow. Why?

Going means movement. Unless someone is dragging, pushing, or forcing us, that movement involves our initiative and stepping out in some way. This requires growth in our ability to walk, move, overcome obstacles, decide which direction to go in, persevere, etc. As we go, we need strength, necessary skills, resources, motivation, and other people along the way to help.

Gaining and obtaining each of these takes growth—physical, psychological, emotional, relational, intellectual, and in character.

No one runs a marathon without training. No baby walks without learning. No one becomes an expert at anything by simply imagining themselves to be one—they have to both learn and train, as well as stretch themselves to expand their comfort zone. We can’t fill big shoes without growing into them.

None of us can grow or go on our own. Sure, we can read books, watch a YouTube video, train by ourselves, etc. But someone else wrote those books and made those videos. Someone else taught us how to walk to begin with. Someone else encourages, supports, helps us, holds us accountable, and spurs us on when we’re ready to give up.

I remember when I first joined our college track and field team. My roommate, an athlete, on the team, had been insisting, “you’re built like a runner! You have to join our team!” So far, I’d had an airtight excuse—it conflicted with choir practice. But our choir director quit, and with no replacement found, that found me wide open for track that spring. Junior year, competing against girls who’d been running track for three to six years. Even though our town had flat terrain, for me, it would be an “uphill battle” to keep up with anyone. On top of that, my long legs made me a long-distance runner. As in 3-5km races. As in doing “LSD” daily for practice—not drugs—“Long, Slow, Distance”! 10 miles, starting in winter, in snow, ice, any weather, more faithful than mail carriers.

To even make it that far, let alone race, meant I needed to grow. In strength, endurance, speed, form, skill, and confidence. The “no pain no gain” kind of growth. The experience of what one girl’s T-shirt read— “Pain is weakness leaving our body”. And mind. For me, the only thing worse than getting used to daily “LSD” times was having to work out in the fitness area. Our college only had one– placed in the guys’ dorm, populated by Neanderthal types putting the pin at the bottom of machines, sweat air-unfreshener wafting through the room, and me having to sneak the pin up to the top of every machine for my skinny arms and legs.

Did I have to do that? Yes, in order to get the strength to pump those arms and legs to go faster and further. Did I grow? Yes! Did I go farther faster? Yes! Did I win? No! But I did better and felt better about it.

Growth begins with humility. Recognizing we need to. It continues with motivation and initiative, seeking and taking opportunities. One step at a time.

With the Lord, growth also involves getting rid of the weight of worldly distractions as well as the entrapment of sin.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Heb. 12:1-2

Lack of growth means lack of “territory” in terms of ability, skill, and opportunity. Lack of territory means narrower boundaries, and more limitations on where we can go and still be in ourselves. If we’re in Texas, we can go quite a long way and still be in Texas. Not so with some other states in the U.S.

Those who never grow remain like babies, in the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social realm, as well as in the physical. They can’t handle mature matters, they can’t relate well, they can’t handle much, and they can’t go much of anywhere in life.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Heb. 5:12-14

The more we grow, the farther we’ll go—in life, in relationships, in purpose, in vision, in positive impact on society.

How do you need to grow in order to get to where you want to go?