Vollie's Views

Seasons of Growth
By Vollie Sanders
It takes a lifetime to grow an oak tree. At the end of its life you would never know that it started out as a little acorn. It also takes a lifetime to grow a believer. We have very little control over how we start to grow, the influences and trials that affect our growth or when we will begin to produce fruit so that other believers can come from our tree of life.

In the spring of our growth, what do we experience? Excitement, eagerness, intense love and longing for Christ. Jeremiah 2:2..."I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothals, your following after Me in the wilderness..."

In the summer of our growth, what do we experience? An intense period of growth; we want to understand God's ways and find proof that His word is true. Psalm 103:7, "He made known His ways to Moses..." We can no longer live on our feelings alone, but must begin to have a foundation that we can trust.

In the autumn of our growth, what do we experience? Like the oak tree, we may have faced many storms, discovering that growth and fruit require commitment and discipline to keep them pure. We may have learned that to follow Christ and produce fruit means being planted in places we may not choose and influencing people that are difficult to penetrate. John 6:67, "Jesus said therefore to the twelve, 'You do not want to go away also, do you?'"

In the winter of our growth, what do we experience? Often during these times of our life, we can grow weary and lose hope, much like the branches of an old oak tree droop after being assailed by the storms of life. Our foundation may be firmly rooted in Christ, but we can become tired of the battle and forget why we are fighting. Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

I have found myself at all these seasons during the course of my growth as a believer. I often evaluate the ways I have changed and the ways I have remained the same during the last five years of my spiritual growth.

Let's pray that we will be called "oaks of righteousness" during all the seasons of growth throughout our lives.

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Vollie Sanders is the National Director of Navigator Women's Ministry, committed to edifying, encouraging and equipping women to know Christ and to make Him known.

As National Director, Vollie is involved in training women across the US, helping and enabling them to be fully involved in the discipleship and leadership process across their seasons of life.

Vollie has authored one book for NavPress, Train Up a Mom, and published an article for Discipleship Journal. Vollie is a wife, mother of three and grandmother of five.