Become New with John Ortberg
24. Step 7: How Much Change Should I Expect to Take Place In My Life? | John Ortberg
Feb 13, 2025
Explore the intricate dance of personal transformation and spiritual growth. Discover how optimism meets realism in our journeys, likened to Labrador dogs. Dive into the metaphor of golf to illustrate fleeting moments of clarity and the importance of embracing failure. Learn about the power of divine grace in overcoming challenges like addiction. Reflect on the intersection of faith and social justice while uncovering inspiring promises from recovery texts that foster commitment and community connection.
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Quick takeaways
- Spiritual optimists believe meaningful personal transformation is possible through a deep relationship with God, contrasting with pessimistic views on human limitations.
- The podcast emphasizes that committed efforts toward personal development, inspired by biblical principles, can lead to profound changes in happiness and peace.
Deep dives
The Nature of Change in Spiritual Growth
The discussion addresses the varying expectations of change in one's spiritual journey, contrasting the views of spiritual optimists and pessimists. Spiritual optimists believe significant transformation is achievable through a relationship with God, while pessimists see human nature as largely unchangeable, leading to a sense of complacency. This dichotomy is illustrated through the analogy of Labrador dogs, where certain behaviors are ingrained, paralleling the limitations humans may face in their character. The tension between hope for change and acceptance of reality invites individuals to maintain a hopeful outlook while recognizing their limitations in the growth process.
