Growth and strength are often used interchangeably and we think that it comes from adversity or getting out of our comfort zone. We have all heard the saying that no growth ever happened in our comfort zone or something to that effect. We hear self-help and self-growth gurus touting how we have to get out of our comfort zone to grow - we must dance with uncertainty. To see things change we must push ourselves beyond our limits and safety zone.
I had always accepted these statements as true and felt like I must not be one for growth since I am also one that loves safety, stability, and yes, my comfort zone. But I AM one for growth. I believe it's important and I am always seeking out ways to grow and become better. These two things seemed at odds with each other until I realized one day that I don't believe the statement that growth doesn't happen in our comfort zone. Let me explain.
For a plant to grow and thrive, it needs to have a somewhat stable, protected environment. It needs nourishment, sunshine, cultivation, and protection. It needs safety from the onslaught of the elements. If it does not have these things, it dies or is majorly stunted in its growth and may never be fruitful. This changed my thoughts about growth. Thinking back to my own seasons of tremendous growth I realized that it wasn't when there were lots of hard things happening - it was when I felt safe, protected, and had what I needed to grow and thrive.
This brought my attention to the difference between strength and growth. Strength, unlike growth, is developed through the storms of life. Strength and growth are both important to our development as people but they happen through different means. When adversity strikes it causes us to hunker down, to pull in, to put our roots down deeper in order to withstand the winds of change. This isn't a time that we grow and flourish, it's a time when growth is stunted but our roots expand and deepen to help us stay upright. We develop depth and character during this time.
Both growth and strength are necessary. We can tend to glamorize one over the other or use them interchangeably but the truth is that they are two separate things that are equally important. Why is this important to note? Well, because our response needs to be different depending on the season we are in. Too often in the storms of life we try so hard to force ourselves to push out flowers and try to grow in spite of the gale force winds that keep ripping our buds off. This can be extremely discouraging as we try to force ourselves to thrive in a season that is not conducive for growth. We think something is wrong with us or we get angry at life for throwing us curveballs. We think if we just try harder or find the right book or program we can force growth, or we go the opposite way and become a victim of our situation. Neither of these are helpful ways to cooperate with the season we are in.
Recognizing the season you are in, regardless of whether you want to be in it or not, is important in knowing how to respond and embracing what is needed. There is proper protocol when it is storming. We pull in and hunker down. We do different activities. We may eat different foods. We interact differently with the world around us. We put our energy into pushing our roots down deeper. This is not a work that others can easily see but it is necessary nonetheless. When it is a season for growth, we plant and harvest. We thrive. We cultivate. We invest. We explore the world and people around us. We grow. Growth is a natural occurrence and not forced. People often can see this season and applaud us for our pretty flowers, the way we glow, and how happy we are.
We have become a society obsessed with building artificial greenhouses to force out-of-season growth. There is a self-help program or book to help with just about anything. We think if we just fix this, that, or the other we can grow in any situation. This just simply isn't true unless we remove ourselves from our natural environment and "simulate" a perfect one - one which is artificial instead of authentic.
This has been very helpful for me to realize that it is not only ok, but also important to know and embrace the difference between strength and growth. That there are seasons to pull in and go deep and seasons to flourish and expand. When we try to force things in the wrong season we shortchange ourselves which sets us up for failure. When we try to grow when we should focus on putting down roots we risk getting fully uprooted and destroyed because our roots can't withstand the storm we are in. I have found that trying to force things regardless of the season we are in is not only discouraging but also counter productive.
So I leave you with this question - what season are you in and are you embracing it and allowing it to work in you all that it needs to or are you fighting it and making it more difficult? We all love growth but growth can be destructive without strength. If you are in a season of adversity and strengthening, embrace it. Allow it to deepen your roots knowing that strong roots are needed for the growth and expansion you so desire. If you are in a season of growth, enjoy it. Grow and flourish knowing that you have weathered storms and that you are capable of weathering many more. Embrace your season of growth and do not fear future storms. You need both safety and storms in different seasons to produce both strength and growth.
Whatever season you find yourself in - give thanks.