Character Formation Is Part of the Process

We are continuing our conversation about the process.

In the previous episodes, we looked at the example of David. We learned that if David had skipped his stages if he had never spent time caring for his father’s sheep, if he had avoided the seasons of humility and hidden preparation, he would not have become the warrior God was preparing him to be.

Every stage was part of his process.Every experience was preparing him for the moment when he would eventually stand before Goliath.

David’s Training Before Goliath

When Goliath challenged and defied the people of Israel, many were afraid.

But David responded differently.

Why?

Because Goliath was not David’s first battle.

David had already faced difficult situations. He had already learned to confront danger. He had already learned to stand firm when other people did not believe in him.

Even members of his own family did not always understand him.

When David arrived at the camp to bring food to his brothers, instead of encouraging him, his older brother criticized him and questioned why he was there. You can read this exchange in 1 Samuel 17:28–30.

But David did not allow those words to distract him from what was happening around him.

He did not remain trapped in an unnecessary argument.

He turned away and continued forward.

That, too, was part of his training.

That was character formation.

Character Is Formed in the Small Things

Many times, we think the process is only about the major events in our lives.

But character is often developed through the small situations we encounter every day.

If you never learn how to continue when people turn their backs on you, if you constantly need people’s approval, if you need everyone to congratulate you, or if everyone must agree with you before you can move forward, there may still be lessons for you to learn in the process.

Sometimes, you can give everything you have to a task, only for someone to tell you that you did nothing.

Sometimes, you know how much effort you invested, but nobody recognizes it.

Sometimes, you give your best and still feel unappreciated.

Those moments can become places of character formation.

Maybe you will cry.

Maybe you will need to step away for a moment, wash your face, gather yourself, regain your strength, and then return with the right attitude.

Someone may hurt you, and yet you choose to respond with wisdom rather than allowing your emotions to control your actions.

That is growth.

That is maturity.

That is character being formed.

When the Level Changes

Once you learn these lessons through smaller situations, something begins to change.

When greater challenges come, they may no longer break you in the same way.

Why?

Because you have already been through training.

Something that would have made you extremely angry yesterday may happen today, and your response might simply be:

“Okay.”

Not because you do not feel anything.

Not because what happened was acceptable.

Not because you have become indifferent.

But because you have grown.

You have learned that you do not have to react to everything.

You have learned to manage your emotions.

You have learned to choose your response instead of allowing someone else’s behavior to choose it for you.

That is character formation.

And character formation is an essential part of the process that leads to transformation.

Before David could handle Goliath, God had already been developing David.

Before the public victory came the private training.

Before the battlefield came the field with the sheep.

Before people recognized the warrior, God was developing his character.

So today, ask yourself:

What is this season developing in me?

Instead of asking only, “When will this end?” perhaps we should also ask:

“What am I supposed to learn before this stage ends?”

We will continue our journey in the next episode.