The American writer William S. Burroughs is credited as saying, “When you stop growing, you start dying.” Burroughs was concerned about stagnation and laziness that always led to inactivity, fatigue, and failure. The Bible is full of examples of growth. There is physical, mental, and spiritual growth. The Bible uses examples, such as sowing and reaping the crops, weaving materials to create fabric, and building bigger and better cities. Genesis describes man’s responsibility to help the garden grow; Exodus speaks of the land of milk and honey. The one most people know is the Parable of the Sower in Matthew. In Second Peter, the apostle Paul tells us, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.” In this verse, Peter is trying to convince us that spiritual growth is never-ending and is necessary to understand God’s grace. We should never stop building our relationship to become closer to Jesus. Another example of how growth is viewed in the Biblical sense is the parable about the Mustard Seed. In this story, Jesus tells us that the fruit we bear is the true measure of our spiritual maturity. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds in the plant kingdom, but when it matures, it creates a huge tree or bush, depending on the type of seed. The Brassicaceae family is known for having a variety of plants with very small beginnings that grow into very substantial plants. Jesus used this story to show that the church would start small and grow worldwide. This example can be used in many ways to show how God can take something very small and insignificant and create things larger than we can imagine. We laugh at the meme that shows a lightning bug that asks if God can make a bug’s rear light up, think what He can do with you. This meme is designed to make us smile, but think about the implications that it actually has in the question.
“A growth mindset is the ability to recognize new opportunities to challenge yourself and the belief that you can improve through experimentation and, at times, failure.” (Palmer, 2025 ) Philippians 4:13 assures us, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” A healthy person wants to achieve more and to improve whatever their circumstances may be. We try to learn new skills, expand our abilities and limits, and face new challenges. Most everyone enjoys accomplishing something they have never done before. Our self-respect, self-esteem, and sense of worth are all affected by the growth we experience. People who actively work at improving their growth have a strong foundation, which results in a better relationship with their family and friends. These people usually have less stress, which allows better health. When a person experiences less stress and enjoys better health, they will be more productive and experience more success. Personal growth allows for accountability to those around you, allows for different points of view to be shared, opens oneself to new ideas, and teaches new skills. Romans 12:2 strongly suggests that we, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Palmer, M. (2025, 10 2). What is a Growth Mindset? Retrieved from Southern New Hampshire University: https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/education/what-is-a-growth-mindset