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To the Humble Young Disciple Who Seeks To Grow In Understanding an

By October 30, 2024Blog Posts
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To the Humble Young Disciple Who Seeks To Grow In Understanding and Leadership

Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash

Dear Young Disciple,

There is a peculiar strength in quietness that the world seldom understands. Many mistake stillness for weakness and silence for emptiness.

In a world that often rewards the loudest voices and the boldest opinions, you move through life with a different kind of strength — a strength found not in noise, but in a humble pursuit of understanding.

This, I suspect, has often left you feeling unnoticed, as if your careful questions and thoughtful observations are somehow drowned out by the certainty of those who speak with more confidence.

You see, it is a rare thing to possess both humility and hunger for truth.

And rarer still is the willingness to admit that you do not have all the answers.

The world needs more souls like yours, those who are not content with easy explanations or superficial answers! I see in you a spirit that longs to dive beneath the surface and explore the deeper waters where truth is found, even when those waters are murky and uncharted.

I am also aware that this search for understanding comes with its own burdens. Those of us who walk that path often carry deep weight and struggle internally that others may not see.

You might feel, at times, as if your quietness is a kind of weakness, or that your doubts are evidence of lesser faith. But take heart, my friend, for quietness is not a flaw, nor are questions a sign of failing belief!

There is a kind of courage in being still while others rush ahead. There is a great strength in choosing to question and reflect while the world around you shouts for certainty.

The journey of faith is not a race to see who can arrive at the final answer first; it is a long, slow, epic quest, and the most valuable discoveries are often made in the pauses along the way!

It is here, in this quiet place, that your heart is being shaped to receive truth not as a conquest, but as a gift.

You have a desire to lead, but if you’re anything like me, I suspect you sometimes doubt your ability to do so.

Perhaps you picture leaders as those with grand visions and powerful voices, those who charge ahead and rally the masses.

But allow me to offer you a different image of leadership. True leaders are not those who seek to be seen, but those who seek to serve. They are not defined by their ability to command, but by their willingness to walk alongside others.

You, my friend, have the heart of a leader precisely because you have the heart of a servant!

I’d encourage you to continue down the path you’re currently walking — the path of growing these attributes: empathy that draws others to lean on you, and a humility that allows you to listen when others speak.

These are not traits of the unremarkable; they are the very qualities that make a great leader. The quiet wisdom you are cultivating now, in these seasons of searching and asking, is preparing you to guide others who are on their own journeys.

But here is where I must offer a gentle challenge: do not let your humility become an excuse to hold back.

There is a fine line between being humble and being hesitant.

God has placed within you a hunger for understanding, but He has also given you a voice — a voice that is meant to speak life into others.

Leadership does not require that you have all the answers; it requires only that you are willing to walk faithfully with what you do know and share it with those who need it!

Let me remind you of this: the greatest leaders in Scripture were not those who had no struggles, but those who trusted God in the midst of them.

Consider Moses, who doubted his ability to speak, or David, who wrestled with his own failings, or even Paul, who carried a thorn in his side.

They were not chosen because they were perfect, but because they were willing.

And so, I encourage you not to despise the burdens you carry. They are not signs of weakness, but opportunities for grace to shine through.

I am certain that your quiet strength in the face of your challenges is itself a testimony to those who are watching.

There is a final word I must leave you with, and it is this: do not measure your worth by the volume of your voice or the certainty of your answers.

You are not called to be like those who find comfort in shallow waters. You are called to seek, to listen, to walk faithfully, and to lead by example.

And in doing so, you are reflecting the heart of the One who came not to be served, but to serve!

Your journey is not easy, and there will be days when the questions seem overwhelming and the silence feels heavy. But remember that you are not walking alone.

God is with you in every question, every doubt, and every quiet moment of reflection. He sees you — not as the world sees you, but as you truly are. And He delights in the quiet courage of your heart.

So press on, friend. Keep asking your questions, keep seeking understanding, and do not be afraid to step into the quiet leadership that God is preparing you for.

Your journey, with all its uncertainties and unspoken burdens, is not a detour from God’s plan — it is the path He has laid out for you.

Your friend in the journey,
Aaron

Sermon On The Mount Meditation:

After reading the letter, I want you to meditate on Matthew 5:5:
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Your humility and willingness to admit what you don’t know are not weaknesses; they are gifts that align with the heart of Jesus.

Meekness is not passivity or timidity, but a gentle strength rooted in trust in God.

As you seek understanding and step into leadership, remember that true strength comes from humility and reliance on the One who calls you forward!


To the Humble Young Disciple Who Seeks To Grow In Understanding an was originally published in GoodLion Theology on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Aaron Salvato

I am an itinerant pastor, former long-time youth pastor, host of the GoodLion Podcast, and director of the GoodLion School of Discipleship. I love Jesus and I love helping others know Him.

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