When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

We cannot outgrow God, but we can outgrow our ideas about God.

Spiritual growth is a continual process of learning and unlearning about God. This calls for us to recognise God’s presence in our lives and respond in such a way that gives Him glory. But if we stopped growing spiritually, our faith will become brittle, and eventually, lifeless. This is because arrested spiritual development always leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. We can see this in the case of the Corinthians.

The Corinthians have forgotten the truth of Christ and who they were to Him. Their church was plagued by many problems because they were not growing in the faith. Their spiritual immaturity kept them from loving God and others. As their spiritual father, Paul did not write to criticize them but rather to exhort them. He urged the Corinthians to put away childish attitudes and habits, and to imitate him in the way he followed Jesus.

Spiritual health and emotional health are closely related.

It is not possible to grow spiritually while remaining emotionally immature. Your spiritual growth and well-being rests on how deeply you receive God's love for you in Christ. This incredible intimacy allows you to be vulnerable— to know yourself as God knows you. A healthy self-awareness means you no longer need to hide yourself behind a mask. And unmasking is the liberating act of putting away childish thing.

Knowing that you belong to God and loved by Him first frees you to live in the security of His love. Then, even in the darkest night, you can still stand steadfast and hold to hope in His perfect love.