Processing with God: Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Destination
The Power of Story
Have you ever started reading the end of a book or movie first, just to skip to the conclusion? We’re naturally drawn to the idea of reaching an endpoint, the result, the success story. But life—like a great story—is not about isolated events; it’s a continuous process, full of transformation, conflict, and growth.
The Bible itself is one grand narrative made up of many smaller stories. Stories are powerful because they transcend time, culture, and circumstance. They invite us to imagine, to reflect, and to learn. God uses stories to teach us lessons and provoke our imagination. And like any good story, life has its setting, characters, plot, conflict, and theme.
So how do we view our lives? Are we just waiting for the next big event? Or are we embracing the process God invites us into?
Event Thinking vs. Process Thinking
Many of us view life as a series of events. In America especially, we’re conditioned to think this way. From childhood, we are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And many young adults, fresh out of college, find themselves lost. They’ve been told what to do up to that point, but now they must decide for themselves how to define success and what to do with their lives.
The same happens in adulthood. You may think that the next job change or retirement will be the event that finally makes life feel "put together." But event thinking—seeing life as a string of milestones—leaves us constantly looking ahead to the next thing, rather than being present with God in the here and now.
Think of David from the Bible. We often highlight the big events of his life: slaying Goliath, becoming king, being part of Jesus’ bloodline. But David’s life was full of conflict and failure too—he committed adultery, was responsible for murder, and mishandled family matters, which led to devastating consequences. Yet despite all this, David is remembered as a man after God’s own heart.
Why? Because David didn’t just live from event to event; his heart was always processing with God, whether in triumph or failure. His life, full of shepherding, running for his life, and singing to God in caves, wasn’t defined by his achievements or mistakes, but by his ongoing relationship with the Lord.
God Is More Interested in the Journey
God isn’t results-driven. He isn’t measuring you by your successes, failures, or how much you’ve produced in this world. God’s focus is on your heart and your relationship with Him.
In my work as a therapist, I practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which teaches that thoughts are at the root of emotions and behaviors. Similarly, God is deeply invested in our thoughts because they shape our heart and soul. Jesus makes this clear when He speaks about the disposition of the heart in Matthew 5, showing that sin isn’t just about what you do outwardly—it’s about the inner condition of your mind and spirit.
Our brains can’t be transplanted. Our thoughts and patterns define who we become. The happiest and most loving people don’t have fewer problems than anyone else—they have learned how to process their experiences with God.
Learning from the Process
It’s often said that we don’t learn from experiences; we learn from reflecting on them. Some people continually grow, scaling mountains of wisdom and insight, while others seem to get stuck in loops of fear, anger, or sin. The difference lies not in the number of challenges but in how they process those experiences.
God is deeply invested in your thoughts because He knows that transformation comes from reflection and processing, not just from doing or achieving.
How to Process with God
Jesus often invited His disciples to process what they were experiencing. After sending them out to preach, He took them aside to reflect on what had happened (Mark 6:30-32). Jesus Himself often retreated to a quiet place to be with God after significant events—not just in times of trouble, but also in moments of success (Mark 6:46).
Signs you may not be processing enough might include:
Repeating patterns in your life—such as getting fired from jobs, constant conflict in relationships, or cycles of fear, anxiety, and anger.
Addictions or unhealthy habits that are left unaddressed.
Feeling like you’re stuck in a loop, questioning why God isn’t "fixing" things for you.
God invites you to process with Him, not just to ask for quick fixes. Processing isn’t instantaneous—it’s a journey of growth, reflection, and trust. God doesn’t just care about the destination; He’s present with you in every step.
Tangible Takeaways: How to Start Processing with God
Recognize that God is with you in the process, not just at the end. He’s present with you in the mess, in the learning, and in the growing. He delights in walking through life with you, and He’s not in a hurry.
Ask Him your questions. God is relational. He wants to talk with you, hear your concerns, and guide you through each experience.
Stay in step with Him. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. As long as you’re walking closely with Him, He will guide and course-correct your steps when needed.
Reflect on your experiences. Don’t rush to the next milestone. Take time to process what God is doing in your life now. Ask Him to reveal the lessons He’s teaching you through each moment.
God promised that we will face troubles in life, but He also invites us to respond in a kingdom-minded way. By embracing the process and walking with Him through each stage, we experience true transformation. Life is not about reaching an end—it’s about being in relationship with the One who walks with us through every step.