"The purpose of life is to develop a deep, personal relationship with Jesus and love Him with all our hearts."

The Bible speaks of spiritual development as a process of growth in faith, understanding, and maturity. It emphasizes personal transformation through learning, practicing virtues like integrity and self-control, and seeking wisdom from God and others. This growth is not a destination—it’s a sacred journey of deepening our relationship with Him.

The word develop does not appear in most Bible translations because it is a modern term. Instead, Scripture uses words like grow, build, and mature to convey similar truths about spiritual progress.

When this word—develop—began to gently whisper in my heart, it stirred an old memory, one stored deep in my mind. As a photographer, I thought of the traditional film process. It starts with seeing—the subject, the light, the story behind the frame. You click the shutter and capture the moment, but the image remains hidden in the dark.

Then comes the anticipation… the darkroom. A place of mystery and care. There, you remove the film, shielding it from premature exposure. You submerge it carefully—first in the developer, then in the stop bath, followed by the fixer. Finally, you let it dry. If all goes well, you’re left with a masterpiece—one that reveals beauty to the world.

Isn’t our life much like that film?

If exposed too early, without the tender care of our Creator, we may never become the masterpiece He knows we can be. But when we walk through seasons of darkness, He holds us gently. He guides us through the process—developing us, bathing us, identifying what needs healing, and lovingly refining us in His hands.

Then, when the time is right… the image is revealed.

His masterpiece—you—begins to shine.

But this is not where the story ends.

This development process becomes a testimony—a hidden beauty now ready to be shared. A witness to how God, with His infinite care, refines our souls and prepares us for heaven’s delight.

We are all traveling home… just at different speeds.

What stage of development are you living in?

Talk to Him.

It’s Him. It’s always Him.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

Designed & Written by Lori Garner  

Bible Collaboration - Joann Turnbull

SINNER'S PRAYER 

Inspiring Music: YouTube 

Out of Darkness