The Law Of Process

“You have caused men to ride over our heads, we went through fire and through water, but you brought us out to rich fulfillment”

- (Psalm 66:12, NKJV)

A dictionary meaning of process is a series of actions, motions or operations leading to some result. Some synonyms of process are development, growth and course. In the opening scripture the psalmist was relating how they went through some adversities before they entered a place of abundance. Below are some truths to consider viz:

Process is a law of life and development: For anything to grow and become meaningful it must go through process. From a sperm fertilizing an egg in a woman’s womb resulting in an embryo being formed and developing to a baby, to a manufacturing process in a car plant of different components being put together to produce a car, the law of process is evident literally in every part of human existence. God likes process because it makes human beings to partake in creation and development with Him. A pastor once said that one reason for the failure of Adam (and Eve) was because they were created full blown adults, they didn’t emerge through process. The second Adam (the Lord Jesus Christ) underwent the law of process. Jesus was born to earthly parents and grew, learning obedience through the things He suffered. The first Adam failed because everything was prepared and made ready for him.

Process results in value: Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed which after being sown in the ground develops and becomes a large tree with branches which provides cover and shades for birds (Mark 4:30-32). The mustard seed on its own has little value and usefulness but once it grows to become a tree with branches and fruits it becomes valuable. The fact is that anything in its raw state isn’t too valuable. Countries in the world are majorly categorized into three groups: The developing (low income), the emerging and the developed (high income). The irony is that the developing low-income countries have abundant resources in their raw state. These resources are transported to the developed rich countries where they are processed and refined, and value is added to them. In like manner, the more we subject ourselves to training (process) in any endeavor the more valuable we become in that area.

Process is a cycle which must be completed: Until the earth orbits (or cycles) round the sun in 365 days, the Gregorian calendar of one year isn’t fulfilled. Anytime there is a disruption in the cycle of process something suffers. Someone told the story of how he punctured an egg that was delaying in hatching, and the chick in the egg came out limping. The chick eventually died because one of its legs wasn’t fully formed and couldn’t carry it for long. Because the process of growth was disrupted in the chick, it couldn’t survive. The Bible in James 1:2-4 in the Message Translation says, “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and show its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you can become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” We just witness comedian Chris Rock who was slapped on stage at the 2022 Oscar Awards comport himself so well that people initially thought it was a stage acting between him and the slapper (Will Smith). Chris Rock proved to the world after being publicly assaulted that his endurance is fully formed.

CONCLUSION: The law of process is a law of life. It is not so much about our attainments (or acquisitions) but it is more about what we become in the process of our pursuits. It is my prayer that we will daily add value to our lives and then to the larger society as a result. Have a blessed month.