A few nights ago as I laid in bed, I wondered with God about the ways I noticed His activity. I considered metaphors from the past week that pointed to the spiritual journey. I fell asleep, but woke up in the middle of the night continuing to ponder with God. A picture came to mind from an experience that week. In my late-night conversation with God, an unfamiliar word came to me to describe this experience.
I combined the words toddler (1-3yr old child) and waddle (like a duck), landing on the word toddle. For me, it described the essence of what I witness as Ellie, my 21 month old granddaughter, runs through the house. As a toddler she moves with the most adorable uncoordinated run/waddle, swaying from side to side, as she scurries across the room. Playing chase or “Get you” occupies much of our time together. She runs/waddles to “hide” and I scamper after her saying, “I’m going to get you.” Her eyes crinkle, she giggles, and I pretend to look for her while laughing. When I catch her, I tickle her tummy, wrap her in a hug, and she runs off again.
Watching Ellie toddle brings delight to my soul. She is learning to walk, yet for now walking looks unsteady. Her little legs and body continue to develop coordination and stability. She staggers from side to side endeavoring to become balanced as she moves forward. Her movement onward persists even as she attempts to keep from stumbling down.
Last night I decided to see if there was an actual word to describe this toddle I see with Ellie. It thrilled me to discover that toddle exists in the Merriam Webster dictionary. Who knew?!!! I thought it was just a random word, but to my delight, it is a genuine word in English.
Toddle – to walk with short tottering steps in the manner of a young child; to walk with short steps, trying to keep the body balanced.
Remarkably, the verb toddle originated in the early 1500s from a word meaning “to walk unsteadily.” The noun “toddler,” meaning “a child who toddles,” formed later in the 18th century from the verb. A toddler is named for their characteristic wobbly walk, as seen in the verb “to toddle.” Fascinating!
This toddling led me to explore with God the invitation in Scripture “to walk in a manner worthy…” (Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12). The word Paul used for worthy, “axios,” means to bring into balance. This caused me to wonder…
What if, by the Spirit, the apostle Paul recognized disciples’ tendency to toddle instead of walk? What if this exhortation brings to the surface the stimulation to shift from wobbly imbalance to unshakable balance in Christ-like living? What if the journey with Jesus develops and grows within us courage, composure, and confidence in God? We toddle when we come to Christ and learn to live a balanced life.
I imagine God delighting in us as we walk unsteadily, but seeing our intention to live out the Gospel, strengthen by His power (Ephesians 3:14-21). Our Heavenly Father takes great pleasure in our pursuit to love Him with all of our being. In Christ, we courageously toddle forward because we know that God loves us (Ephesians 2:4-5). In that confidence, we waddle and sway in our pursuit of living with God, looking like Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit.
Pause to savor the reality that God loves you extravagantly. Take some deep breathes lingering in His love.
Our faith which begins with stumbles and swaying, takes us deeper into the secure love of God, Like a balanced scale, our lives grow to resemble the character and Kingdom of God. As we surrender to the Spirit of God, we receive supernatural power to display humility, gentleness, self-control, and patience (Eph. 4:1-3). The Spirit empowers us to live out Christ-like qualities in love. We seek unity by the Spirit with others. Because of Christ, our attitude overflows with gratitude and generosity. Our footing becomes more stable allowing our lives to look consistent with the message of God.
Which Christ-like qualities do you toddle with: Humility, gentleness, self-control, patience, love, unity, and gratitude? Yield to the Spirit of God to shape you into greater balance with this trait. Does your life like look consistent with the message of God?
Our toddling becomes walking and the fruit of the Spirit forms within us, exhibiting the kingdom of God in the world (Col. 1:10). We know and experience Christ not just in our minds, but our hearts and bodies. The way we walk draws others to the Gospel message of new life in Christ. The life we live and the message we proclaim balance and glorify God (1 Thess. 2:12)
What if, when we come to Christ we toddle more than walk? Yet, as we mature in Christ, we become more stable and sure of our identity as disciples of Christ so that our gait reflects a confident walk, rather than an unsteady wobble. Let us pursue Christ, allowing the Spirit to move us from toddling in the spiritual journey to walking in the Spirit, by the Spirit, for the God Almighty.
This week – – –
Reflect. Explore the ways you toddle and walk toward Jesus and others with humility. Are you content to not control? Can you release control of outcomes to the Lord? How does sacrificial living look in your life? Invite the kindness of God to shape your life to reflect the humble character of Christ. Contemplate Philippians 2:3-8 — “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!”
Request. Welcome the power of God into the areas you continue to toddle, rather than walk. Confess your dependence upon God and desire to walk in Him with a consistent, balanced life and message to family, friends, and the world. Trust the timing and ways of God’s formation of your soul. Look to His steadying hand to guide your growth (Isaiah 41:10).
Receive. Imagine the Trinity pouring all of their love and grace into your soul. Receive the love and grace of God. You are loved. His grace is sufficient. He is the power and sustainer of your life. Rest in Him.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Ephesians 4:1-3 – I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 1:9-12 – And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Klaus Issler. Living into the Life of Jesus: The Formation of Christian Character. Lisle, IL. 2012.
John Ortberg. The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God’s Best Version of You. Nashville, TN. 2014.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Jaime MacDonald with Lauren Daigle. Desperate. Click here to watch & listen.
Michael Bethany. Walk. Click here to watch and listen.
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
March 7 – LIttleton, CO – Colorado Community Church, Prayer Ministry
April 24-May 3 – Lviv, Ukraine – Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary, The Care of Souls. upfmissions.org
May 18-22 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
May 31-June 13 – Quarryville, PA – Black Rock Retreat, Summer Camp Staff Training
July 6-10 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
July 13-21 – Kigali, Rwanda – Soul Care Retreat and Training, Life Link Rwanda