Maturity and the Weight of God's Glory

Maturity and the Weight of God's Glory
Devotion by Pastor Alexander L. Redd
November 6, 2025

“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15).

Have you ever asked God for answers, and it felt like heaven was silent? You prayed with sincerity, searched the Bible with care, and the clarity still did not come. That silence can feel like distance, yet Scripture paints another picture. God's quiet is not cold. It is careful. He reveals truth in moments that fit His wisdom, our growth, and the depth of our friendship with Him.

Ecclesiastes says, “He makes everything beautiful in its time.” Beauty here is not just about sunsets and flowers. It's about the meaning that comes at the right moment, when our hearts can recognize it. Jesus told His disciples, “You cannot bear this now.” He was not shutting them out; He was shielding them from confusion and giving them time to grow. Delay does not mean neglect. Delay is protection and preparation.

Spiritual maturity shapes what we can carry. The disciples loved Jesus, yet before the cross, they struggled with pride and fear. They quarreled about who was greatest, misunderstood suffering, and ran when danger came. After the resurrection and then the giving of the Spirit, these same men spoke with courage, served with humility, and grasped truths that once felt beyond their comprehension. God often allows us to meet hard things that stretch our trust, not to crush us, but to strengthen our faith so we will be able to hold heavier truth later.

Capacity is our ability to bear the weight of revelation. Some words from God are like rich meals. They nourish but only if our appetite and strength are ready. Jesus admitted that some truths had to wait. It is through endurance, repentance, and steady faithfulness that God increases our capacity. As we keep on walking with Him in small obediences, the same truth that once overwhelmed us becomes a sturdy plank under our feet.

All of this is rooted in a relationship: Jesus calls us friends. Friends are invited into confidence. He shares more with those who will sit near. And friendship with God grows in quiet prayer, in worship that lingers, in daily choices that honor Him when no one is watching. The closer we draw, the clearer we hear. This is not about earning secrets. It's about staying close enough to listen when He speaks.

God doesn't speak to impress us; He speaks to change us. He uses pain and waiting to refine our loves and reorder our priorities. Job's long night ended with a larger vision of God's greatness. The disciples only fully understood the miracles after the resurrection tied the story together. Some lessons are only learned on the road. We meet them in valleys we would not choose and discover that God was carrying us through.

So, what can you do today while you wait for answers?

First, honor God's timing. And when clarity doesn't come, say, "Lord, Your clock is wiser than mine." Open Ecclesiastes 3 and pray it slowly. Ask God to fit your expectations to His schedule.

Second, lean into growth: ask the Spirit to show you one area of obedience you can practice today. It can be forgiving someone, setting aside quiet time, serving without being seen, or telling the truth where it costs you. Each act stretches your capacity to receive more light tomorrow.

Third, cultivate friendship: Read John 15 aloud, picturing Jesus calling you a friend. Talk with Him through your day, not just in set prayers. Put on a praise song and just sit in His presence. Friendship grows with time spent and honest words.

Fourth, look for purpose in pain. Instead of asking only “Why is this happening,” ask “What are You forming in me through this.” Keep a small record of lessons learned in hard places.

You will see patterns of God’s care appear on the page.

Finally, just keep walking. Light often comes at the next bend in the road. Do the next faithful thing in front of you. God's guidance is often a lamp to your feet, not a floodlight for the whole path. Trust that the lamp is enough for today.

One day you will look back and trace the quiet wisdom of the Lord. You will see how He was shaping you to receive what you could not bear before. He will show you that His silence had purpose, His timing had kindness, and His revelation had your growth in view. He calls you friend, and friends hear more.