None of us grows through pressure

‘If we expect each other to begin healing immediately, as soon as something is out in the light, we kill the whole point of mutual confession. God does not extend forgiveness to us vertically with an attached timescale; why would we put a timescale on each other horizontally? Certainly, we want to feel the urgency of the need for growth; the joy and usefulness and very soul health of the sinner is at stake. But none of us grows through pressure. It is the very absence of pressure that creates a fertile environment for killing sin and growing.’

-Dane Ortlund, Deeper, pp. 117-118

(GSiV: GSiV Resource Page; Ray Ortlund;

Dane Ortlund;

Jerry Bridges)

Worn out with your Christian life?

‘Some of us are worn out with our Christian life, tired and discouraged, empty and running on fumes. Despite having in place a strong gospel theology, we are sputtering along, not really growing. Might it be because we have never climbed into 1 John 1:7? Are we trying to develop spiritually in the dark? Is there someone in your life who knows you are a sinner not only generally but also specifically? Not just in the abstract but also in the concrete? It is scary to go there with another brother or sister. But surgery is scary too. Yet is it not worth going through with it, given the healing and restoration and life and health awaiting us on the other side?’

-Dane Ortlund, Deeper,  p. 116

(GSiV: GSiV Resource Page; Ray Ortlund; Dane Ortlund; Jerry Bridges)