We live in an age of information-overload. News coverage from around the world, google searches, ChatGPT, customer reviews, influencer endorsements, social media commentary, online courses, podcasts and YouTube tutorials are all only a click away.
We are the most informed generation in human history, which undoubtedly provides us with new and extraordinary possibilities. However, being informed and being wise are not the same thing. Our access to information may be at an all-time high, but wisdom… Well, not so much.
The longer I live, the more I realize how truly invaluable wisdom is. When we proactively and intentionally seek out wisdom from God’s Word and put it to work in our lives, we grow and mature. We become more discerning, more understanding, and better equipped in life to live like Jesus, love God and others genuinely, and make the difference we were born to make.
How do we know we are growing and maturing in life? Well, below are some tell-tale signs of a person who is applying God’s Word and led by the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. They are also great qualities to look for in friends, a potential spouse, business partners, teammates and employees. As you reflect on this list, I pray you are able to celebrate the ways the Lord has developed your character, and also identify an area or two where you would like to personally grow. We are all works in progress, which means we can thank God for all the ways we have matured while continuing to develop and grow.
1. You keep doing the right things even when it feels boring.
Maturity is often revealed in our consistency. It’s one thing to start healthy and godly habits and disciplines in our lives. It’s another thing entirely to keep them going once the honeymoon phase wears off. Wisdom knows not only how to start strong, but how to keep doing the right things when the excitement and initial passion dies down.
A clear sign of growth is that we are able to keep doing the right things whether we feel like it or not. When we commit to godly disciplines in our lives, they actually fuel deeper devotion to God, and a greater love for others. They may feel boring from time-to-time, but in reality, they make for a wonderful and meaningful life!
2. You wait without complaining.
Most evenings, my daughter protests her bedtime because, “It takes a long time to fall asleep!” This is sorta cute because she’s two; her patience is rather low at this stage of her development. My hope for my little girl is that as she grows in age and experience, she will learn that good things take time.
The really good things in life come to those who know how to wait hopefully and even joyfully.
A sign of maturity is not only persevering through seasons of waiting, but choosing to pray and praise God over complaining and grumbling about what you don’t yet have.
3. You take ownership of your life.
We all experience setbacks, mistreatment and heartbreak. Childhood trauma, relational betrayals, inequity in the workplace, unexpected misfortunes, health battles and more produce some serious collateral damage in our lives.
Maturity doesn’t mean that we minimize or ignore the impact of our losses; it just means we refuse to be defined and limited by them. We take ownership of our life, and do the really hard work of healing from past wounds and continuing to move forward with faith and hope.
4. You forgive and move on.
In life, people will let you down. You will get hurt. No one is immune to heartbreak. A sign of maturity is choosing forgiveness over bitterness. Certainly, this is easier said than done. Only because God has forgiven us can we extend radical mercy, and gratefully we have the empowering of the Holy Spirit to help us practice forgiveness when we’d rather seek revenge.
Often the path towards forgiveness takes time and demands a complete dependence on Jesus. It is a narrow road, and few walk on it. Those who do, however, discover it’s not only the way of Jesus— it’s the road to freedom.
5. You celebrate the successes of others.
It’s easy to develop a case of FOMO when seeing so many highlight reels on social media. We compare our current struggles to someone else’s victories, and grow insecure and jealous as a result. Why are they getting engaged while we keep swiping right and coming up empty? Why are they getting the promotion when we are busting our butts at work? Why do they get to travel around the world while my only excursion is school pick ups and drop offs?
A wise person knows that someone else’s win isn’t their personal loss. When they see others succeeding, they celebrate knowing that if God blessed them, God can bless me, too! They are genuinely excited for others to do well, and are eager to cheer others on.
6. You expect the work will be hard.
In the first couple months of motherhood, I was in love with my newborn! I was also sleep-deprived, my hormones were everywhere, my husband and I were trying to figure out brand new rhythms, and it felt like my entire life changed overnight. I remember thinking to myself, “No one told me motherhood was going to be so hard.” Ha! The truth was… they did. My mother’s selfless example over the years, not to mention my friends with kids having to always find a babysitter, deal with the latest flu going around, and navigate the weird teenage years were all sending the same message— this is hard!
Getting your master’s, finding and keeping a great job, starting a business, doing full-time ministry, getting married, having kids, raising kids, staying committed to a local church… it’s all going to be hard. In fact, I guarantee it will be more difficult than you think it will be. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it!
The really good things in life take work. When we anticipate that the work will stretch us, then we don’t break under the pressure, we adapt and grow.
7. You admit when you are wrong.
My daughter will drop her silverware on the floor at dinner and without hesitation say, “Oopsies!” She will throw a mini-tantrum over not getting more playtime, and then 30 seconds later, give me a hug and say, “I’m sorry.” She has no problem admitting she is wrong. I’m grateful that she knows it’s safe to fail in our home, and that it’s an essential part of learning and growing. I hope she always feels this way, but I know as she gets older, she will have to fight against pride and insecurity to humbly and quickly admit when she’s wrong.
A sign of maturity is being willing to quickly own your mistakes and learn the right lessons from them. Everyone messes up. It’s not a perfect track record that builds trust with those around us; it’s a willingness to admit when we are wrong and do better the next time around.
8. You keep trying.
Sometimes, you are going to hit a home run, and other times you are going to strike out. A mature person doesn’t expect to win every game, but they keep going to bat. They don’t let failures and setbacks determine their potential. They prayerfully keep doing what God has asked of them, and trust Him with the results of their faithfulness.