spiritualgrowth – Elevate Within

What if the very thing you’re rejecting holds the insight you need?

We’ve all been there caught in a disagreement, emotions rising, walls going up. And in those moments, it’s easier to shut everything down than to sort through what’s being said. Instead of listening, we dismiss it all.

Sometimes, we truly don’t agree with anything the other person is saying. But other times, there are pieces of truth buried within their words things worth holding onto. The challenge is that we often become so closed off, we don’t even pause long enough to recognize them.

I see this happen often, especially when it comes to religion. There may be beliefs we strongly disagree with, and instead of separating what resonates from what doesn’t, we reject it all. Over time, I’ve learned the value of simply agreeing to disagree and moving on while still keeping an open mind. That openness creates space to learn something new, or at the very least, to better understand how someone arrived at their beliefs.

Many times, a person’s perspective is shaped by their life experiences, and those experiences deeply influence what they believe. In Christianity, the Bible serves as a foundation. But beyond that, a personal relationship with God gives deeper meaning to those beliefs. When you’ve experienced God for yourself, your faith becomes personal and rooted. It’s no longer just about what you’ve been told or even what you’ve read, it’s about what you know through experience.

Those personal encounters shape how we see God and how we see ourselves. They ground our faith in a way that can’t easily be shaken.

At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge that people can interpret the Bible in ways that suit their own perspectives—and sometimes even misunderstand it entirely. There are things we won’t always understand, and pride can keep us from admitting that (Proverbs 16:18). In those moments, we’re called to lean not on our own understanding, but to seek God for clarity.

Even when there isn’t a direct answer in front of us, we can turn to His Word for guidance and ask Him to reveal what we don’t yet understand.

We serve a merciful, all-knowing God one we can come to at any time (Hebrews 4:13). A God who does not fail. A God we can trust, even when life doesn’t make sense (Proverbs 3:5–6). And through that trust, we come to a deeper confidence in what we believe and why we believe it.

As we grow in that truth, we’re also called to walk in humility (Matthew 23:12).

So, in the midst of disagreements, conversations, and differing beliefs stay open, stay humble, and remember:

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the work we all need to do on ourselves.

So often, we focus on what someone else needs to change. And while it’s true that others may have their own growth to do, we sometimes overlook a powerful truth: real change often begins within us.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we are fully responsible for how we respond. We are responsible for our healing, our triggers, our growth, and our transformation.

The truth is, we are all a work in progress — and that progress doesn’t end. It is a lifelong journey. As it says in Epistle to the Philippians 1:6, God, who began a good work in us, is faithful to complete it. From moment to moment, He is shaping us — refining, stretching, pruning, and growing us. Teaching us to forgive. To show compassion. To walk in humility. To become better so we can do better.

The work always begins when we look in the mirror.

When we honestly examine ourselves — our reactions, our patterns, our wounds — we begin to see what needs to change. And often, the changes we make within ourselves shift our entire situation. They can change our relationships, our environment, or at the very least, our perspective. And what we cannot change on our own, God can work through us to transform.

We often ask, “When will things change?”
But things begin to change when we change.

Growth is not easy. It requires digging deep. It means confronting uncomfortable emotions. It means acknowledging past pain and recognizing the triggers we carry. It means admitting that we may need to think differently, respond differently, or even seek help. Sometimes that help comes through prayer and surrender. Sometimes it comes through therapy and intentional reflection. Often, it’s both.

Interestingly, the red flags we notice in others can become mirrors. When we see someone avoiding their inner work, it can prompt us to ask: Am I doing mine?

Self-work is not about blame. It’s about responsibility. It’s about recognizing not only what we are carrying internally, but also how it affects the people around us.

Instead of constantly looking outward, let’s start inward.

This doesn’t mean others don’t need to change. It simply means we take ownership of our part. And sometimes, when we do our work faithfully and consistently, it inspires others to begin theirs.

We are all a work in progress.
And that’s not a weakness — it’s grace in motion.

Elevate Within

Tag: spiritualgrowth

Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater

Work In Progress