Friday Fight 221: From Problem to Process - Learning to Grow with God
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF221.
How many of us remember asking a teacher a question, only to be told to figure it out by asking a classmate or checking a resource? At the time, it may have felt like the educator was avoiding the question or being unhelpful, but that was probably not the case. Still, for many educators, even without knowing the term "productive struggle," this process is intentional.
This model encourages self-reflection, peer trust, endurance, and humility. Students learn they've been given tools to work through challenges, which shows them they are not helpless. It reveals they are being guided through growth, not rescued from discomfort. If we apply this process spiritually, how would it work?
From Problem to Process: Learning to Grow with God
In our spiritual walk, struggle teaches us a great deal. It reveals our tendencies when things get hard—do we give up, seek quick fixes, or lean into our faith? Struggling can shape our mindset, deepen our prayers, and reinforce the value of walking in community. Let's consider a classroom scenario: A student is stuck on a math problem.
The process is simple but meaningful:
1. Try solving it alone by rereading the question and focusing on key concepts.
2. Ask a nearby classmate for help.
3. If still stuck, ask another peer outside their close circle or study group.
Let's apply productive struggling to our spiritual walk. When faced with a difficulty, consider the following:
1. Start With God:
When faced with a spiritual problem or inner conflict, begin by turning inward and upward. Sit with God in prayer, journal your thoughts, or meditate on Scripture. When an immediate resolution is not apparent, practice spiritual endurance. Build habits that will serve you in future struggles. We cannot grow if our problems are always immediately fixed. Even in miraculous healing or divine intervention, there's usually a process we're invited to walk through.
2. Lean Into Community:
Share your struggle with someone you trust—a mentor, pastor, prayer partner, or spiritual friend. This step deepens your relational and spiritual life. As in the classroom, we grow by leaning on others who are walking the path alongside us. Be mindful that using community time is about growth and accountability.
3. Widen the Circle:
Consider looking beyond your immediate circle. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring someone to mind —possibly another friend, a spiritual elder, or whoever the Holy Spirit reveals. Read a book, listen to a sermon, or explore the experiences of others who have walked through similar struggles. Your perspective is widened as you're reminded that your battle is not yours alone, others have walked this same path.
Take some time to examine the opportunities and growth that past struggles revealed. It can be difficult, but rather than approaching God with frustration when answers aren't immediate, we can begin to see how God’s constant invitation shapes our character. We can walk in confidence as we face struggles rather than trying to bypass them. James 1:4 reminds us that perseverance is an active form of growth as God uses each situation to refine us.
In our spiritual maturation, our prayers become less about demanding answers and more about surrender, intimacy, and spiritual maturity. In this space, God meets us not with quick solutions, but with His presence, His people, and His peace. There is no substitute for the fellowship God has created and nourished through this process of community, patience, and perseverance. Let’s not miss the deeper place God is offering to bring us, not around the struggle, but through it.
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In His Grace,
Pastor Shannon
River Church