The Gift of Growth: Nurturing Your Spiritual Life

The other day, I stumbled across a quote by the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.  

Aside from having perhaps the best name in all of theology, von Balthasar knew a great deal about spiritual growth and its importance in our overall journey of faith.  Here's the quote: 

“What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” 

These profound words remind us of both the challenges and the beauty of our spiritual growth journey. 

Initially, we are given our existence, our talents, and our unique identity by God—God is the source of everything we are. But the true essence of our faith lies not just in what we are now, but in what we are becoming through our choices, intentions, and ongoing devotion to God.

Further, this quote invites us to reflect on our role in our spiritual journey. 

Our salvation is a gift from God—a grace that sustains us at every moment. Yet, it is also an invitation to collaborate with God's divine work within us. The progress we make in love, patience, kindness, and humility is, in essence, our gift to God. It’s how we respond to God's grace, growing into the person God envisions for us.

The Bible beautifully echoes this concept in Philippians 1:6, where Paul encourages us by saying, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Paul's words remind us that our spiritual growth is a divine project, ongoing and intentional. God has planted within us the seeds of goodness, and through our dedication, prayer, and humility, those seeds blossom into a fuller reflection of God's love.

Growth is a process—sometimes gentle, sometimes demanding—but always purposeful. It involves shedding old attitudes, embracing new virtues, and deepening our relationship with God. Every act of kindness, every moment of prayer, every decision to forgive or trust—these are steps on the path of becoming more like Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are called not only to appreciate who we are but also to commit ourselves to becoming more aligned with God's will. It’s a continual process that requires intentionality and discipline. We are not stagnant; we are called to evolve spiritually, to deepen our faith and character.

I encourage you today to tend to your spiritual life as diligently as you do your material pursuits. Just as we invest time and energy into our careers, relationships, and health, so too must we nurture our soul’s growth. Invest in prayer, Scripture, community, and service—these are the fertile ground where your spiritual life can flourish.

Remember, your growth is a gift to God—a manifestation of your love and gratitude for all God has done. 

Embrace this journey of becoming, trusting that with God's guidance, you are becoming more the person God created you to be. Let’s offer our best efforts to God's service, knowing that in doing so, we are not just transforming ourselves—we are honoring the greatest Gift of all.

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.