Containers for Spiritual Growth

*Picture taken in Saint Lucia

A Practice in Listening to the Inner Voice of Love

So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

—Jonah 1:15-17

Beloved,

Throughout your journey, I will provide the containers you need to facilitate spiritual growth. At times, this will feel confining and constricting—like you are being held in one place. But I am giving you the structure you need so Christ can form in you.
 
Jonah’s container came in the form of the belly of a large fish. He was housed in a small space. Instead of running away, or setting adrift on the open sea, Jonah had to become still.

Can you imagine what thoughts and feelings came to the surface over the course of three days? What inner monologues, fears, or prejudices Jonah was confronted with? Jonah had to stop running around so he could listen to, and be formed by, me.
 
Your containers will look different but they serve the same purpose—a nine to five job, weekly therapy, a small group, a prolonged hospitalization. These can also be my provisions, ways I can hold you in place to carry out the internal work I am doing.
 
Beloved, be still even in the discomfort of growth and learning. Don’t hurry out of this time of inner forming. I want to bring my work, in you, to completion.

—Love