I began this year wanting a “one word,” like I saw so many others having, as a focus or theme for the year. What they believed God was speaking to them, or what He was going to be doing in them. Their words were inspiring and powerful, and I was lacking. I didn’t have a “one word.” Or, so I thought. Nearing winter last year, God impressed on my heart the upcoming year was going to be a year of growth. At the time, I didn’t think of it as my “one word.”

I was in a bit of soul chaos, during and shortly after my last blog break. I searched for words to describe the place I was in and found these, “I suppose you can say there is an unsettling in my soul and spirit. Life is rubbing up against me pretty hard, and the friction it’s creating is more like an agitation and it’s very uncomfortable — inside and out. But I think it’s by divine design that I am. It motivating me toward change. There’s a gap, more like a chasm, between where I am and where I want to be. And I know it’s time for change. And not just blog change, but personal change. And change never comes without resistance. Change is not easy, but necessary for growth.”

And I found my one word.

“To reach your potential you must grow. And to grow you must be highly intentional about it.” — John C. Maxwell

God was calling me to grow. I began reading Maxwell’s book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, and I knew the book would also be my mentor. It would be a slow read, possibly taking me the rest of the year to finish. Read slow. Sit still. Really listen. Line-by-line God is confirming “growth.”

Yes. This.

I have dreams. I have aspirations. I have goals. I can focus all my energies on trying to achieve them, but I can also exhaust myself striving without accomplishing very much, and had. Something needed to change. My focus did. “…if you focus on goals, you may hit goals—but that doesn’t guarantee growth. If you focus on growth, you will grow and always hit goals.” — John C. Maxwell

I thought at first, God meant blog growth? No, He meant personal growth. Growth that happens in me, and growth means change. And change is not easy. While we are focused on what’s happening to us, God is focused on what’s happening in us. Tweet that?

“If you want to reach your potential and become the person you were created to be, you must do much more than just experience life and hope that you learn what you need along the way. You must go out of your way to seize growth opportunities as if your future depended on it. Why? Because it does. Growth doesn’t just happen — not for me, not for you, not for anybody. You have to go after it!” — John C. Maxwell

Throughout the rest of the year, I will still write about motherhood and missions and messes. Though, it’s in my heart to share with you what I’m learning about growth. I hope it encourages you in your own life. Watch out for those “growth” posts! Follow via email so you don’t miss any? Click here to subscribe.