All these years later, I still vividly remember the moment. I was in 4th grade, and for some reason, the class asked me to do the splits. I willingly obliged, and while that in itself wasn’t remarkable, what followed was.
My favorite teacher ever, Mrs. Dickey, smiled broadly and said, “I can do that.” All of our heads whipped around in disbelief.
“No, you can’t!” we asserted. After all, to us, she was an adult, older than our mothers, and therefore had to be ancient.
“Yes, I can,” she insisted.
Me, ever the bold one, said, “Okay. Do it!”
Without any hesitation, she dropped down right there and did the splits. Perfectly. We all cheered, loud and amazed. It was quite a moment.
After the excitement died down, I asked her how old she was. “I’m forty,” she replied with a bemused smirk.
In that moment, I made a vow to my ten-year-old self that I would be able to do the splits when I was forty, in honor of Mrs. Dickey. If she could do it, so could I.
Over the years, I thought about that vow often. I worked to stay limber, doing the splits periodically just to make sure I still could. On my fortieth birthday, I dropped down and did the splits. It was a full-circle moment, a tribute to both my favorite teacher and my younger self.
While I’d love to say that I’ve kept every promise I’ve made to myself, that wouldn’t be true. I’ve left broken promises behind me like discarded clothes. But the ones I’ve kept are like treasures, something to take out and admire from time to time.
Faith works much the same way. We choose the path of faith and are reborn as children of God, with the goal of hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into my rest” (Matthew 25:21, Hebrews 4:3-11). That’s what we set our eyes on, and it makes an impact.
When I came to understand the remarkable grace and love the Lord offers, my life changed. I went from cynical and broken to restored and treasured. Yet those old thought patterns and broken behaviors still tried to assert themselves. It took conscious effort to stay grounded in grace.
I dug into scriptures that reminded me of the truth about the new me so I could fight back against the ugly thoughts nagging me. Thoughts that I was a doomed failure, broken beyond repair, were replaced with words like, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), and “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
I grew in my ability to pray consistently, asking the Lord for strength and clarity. I connected with others who cared about me and asked them to hold me accountable. And when they did, I made the choice to listen rather than react or defend myself. Not perfectly, but consistently.
I learned to praise God for every victory and invite His comfort in my defeats. I sang when I wanted to yell. I begged for my Creator’s strength when mine was gone. I made many wrong choices amidst the right ones, but I kept learning and turning back to the Lord’s path for me. Through this process, I grew and continue to grow. I am stepping into a better version of who God created me to be—not perfectly, but consistently.
Let’s take a quick trip back to my 4th-grade class. Imagine if I hadn’t bothered to hold on to the vision of doing the splits at forty. Or if I hadn’t worked on maintaining that skill over the years. I think we both know I wouldn’t have met my goal if I’d just stopped trying.
Faith is the same way. Once I’ve experienced that initial transformation, the journey isn’t over; it’s just beginning. And the need to stay tied to scripture, prayer, and community only grows.
I think of the Apostle Peter’s charge in 2 Peter 1:5-11: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Peter implores us twice to make every effort to grow in our faith. When I feel ineffective and unproductive, burnt out and empty, I return to this verse. It reminds me of the big picture, of all that Christ has freed me from. And in that process, my hope for my current situation grows.
Life is a journey of faith, a constant process of growth and renewal. Just as I kept my promise to do the splits at forty, I strive to keep my commitment to walk in faith. It’s not about perfection but persistence, trusting that each step forward brings me closer to the person God created me to be. And as I grow in faith, I find strength, purpose, and hope, knowing that the best is yet to come.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT
Doing the splits at 40 (and even at 50—woohoo!) was a special moment for me. But imagine how incredible it will be when we reach our resurrection moment and enter heaven—a place where there are no tears, no sorrow, only rejoicing, joy, and peace!
In this life, you and I may lose individual battles with the enemy of our souls. There will be times when we go left when we should’ve gone right, when we make the wrong choice, or face the consequences of others' wrong choices. But one thing you can absolutely count on—you will never lose the overall war. God is faithful, even when we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). Your Creator is always there for you, ready to guide you back to the path. The key is to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Are you making space to spend time with your Creator? Are you praying, reading the Word, and surrounding yourself with positive people who help you grow? These aren’t just tasks on a to-do list; they are the foundation of transformation and healing. They are the spiritual glue that holds you together. No matter what you’re experiencing right now, trust that God will bring good out of it. That is His good and precious promise.
So, keep pressing forward. Lean into your faith, even when the road is rough. Remember that every moment of growth, every step closer to God, is a victory. And as you stay rooted in Him, you’ll find the strength to face whatever comes your way, knowing that the ultimate victory is already yours. The best is truly yet to come.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I come before You with a grateful heart, thanking You for Your unending grace and faithfulness. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Strengthen me in my journey, especially in moments of doubt and weakness. Guide my steps, fill me with Your peace, and remind me of Your promises. May I grow closer to You each day, trusting in Your plan and finding comfort in Your love. In all I do, may I honor You and walk in the path You’ve set before me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ABOUT BARB LOWNSBURY
Barb is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in International History and Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education. Barb has spoken at conferences and taught classes throughout the U.S. on topics including faith, relationships, leadership, and courage through trials. Her book, Using What’s Broken to Boldly Shine, is a powerful read on transformation through adversity. Her blog focuses on providing people with everyday encouragement and strength. Barb serves as the Executive Director for The Dented Fender Ministry and runs a successful real estate and development company. She and her husband currently reside in Dayton, Ohio.
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