Susie Travis — Grow Through Study
Growing through study means allowing God’s Word to shape our hearts, guide our faith, and strengthen us through every season of life.
I always want to be a teacher
Allow God’s Word to shape your heart and mind
Learning to Follow God Through Scripture, Seasons, and Spiritual Growth
One of the earliest dreams in my life was becoming a teacher. Even as a little girl, I loved learning, organizing, helping others understand things, and sharing what I knew. My sisters and I used to play school together, and I always insisted on being the teacher. Looking back now, I can see that God planted that desire in my heart long before I understood how He would use it later in ministry, discipleship, teaching, and spiritual growth.
Over the years, I discovered that God was not only teaching me through life — He was also preparing me to help encourage and teach others.
Faith did not grow overnight in my life. It grew slowly through years of worship, Bible study, prayer, hard seasons, unanswered questions, teaching opportunities, and learning to trust God more deeply over time. Some lessons came during joyful seasons. Others came during heartbreak, grief, disappointment, change, and waiting. Yet through every season, God continued to teach me through His Word.
As I look back, I can see how Scripture became more than words on a page. God used His Word to guide me, correct me, encourage me, strengthen me, and remind me that He was always with me.
There were seasons when I studied because I was hungry to grow. There were other seasons when I studied because I desperately needed hope and direction. Through both kinds of seasons, God remained faithful.
I have walked through the loss of my father. I have experienced homesickness and difficult transitions in life. I watched my son Sean move far away to Finland, and part of my heart went with him. I lost my singing voice after thyroid surgery because of damaged nerves. I have prayed prayers that were not answered the way I hoped. I have lived through health struggles, financial concerns, uncertainty, and grief.
Yet through every season, God kept drawing me back to Scripture.
Sometimes God spoke through a sermon. Sometimes through quiet Bible study at home. Sometimes through preparing lessons to teach others. Sometimes through Emmaus experiences, devotionals, worship planning, or conversations with other believers. Sometimes through a verse that seemed to meet me exactly where I was standing that day.
One of the most meaningful lessons I shared during my Emmaus talk, Grow Through Study, was that study is not simply about gaining more Bible knowledge. True study changes us. God uses His Word to shape our hearts, renew our minds, strengthen our faith, and guide the way we live each day.
Study taught me that faith is not based on feelings alone.
Study taught me that God remains faithful even when circumstances are hard.
Study taught me that unanswered prayers do not mean unanswered love.
Study taught me that spiritual maturity often grows slowly through ordinary faithfulness.
Study taught me that God’s Word continues to speak into every season of life.
Over time, I realized that discipleship involves both the heart and the mind. Worship, prayer, study, service, and obedience all work together as God shapes us into faithful followers of Christ.
One of the greatest blessings has been discovering that learning and growing never stop. Even after years of church life, Bible studies, Emmaus experiences, worship planning, ministry work, and teaching opportunities, God still continues to reveal new truths and deeper understanding.
The song Ancient Words became especially meaningful to me because it reflects this journey of being guided and shaped by God’s truth through every season of life. His Word has remained steady when life felt uncertain.
God’s Word carried me through grief.
God’s Word strengthened me through waiting.
God’s Word reminded me that I was never alone.
God’s Word still continues to teach me today.
I am still growing.
Still learning.
Still studying.
Still trusting.
And I am thankful that God is never finished teaching us.
Scripture References
- Psalm 119:105
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
- Joshua 1:8
- Romans 12:2
- Hebrews 4:12
- James 1:22
- Colossians 3:16
Song Reflection — Ancient Words
Ancient Words reflects the heart behind this testimony and the lifelong journey of growing through God’s Word. Through seasons of joy, grief, waiting, unanswered prayers, worship, and spiritual growth, Scripture remained a steady guide and reminder of God’s faithfulness. These ancient truths continue to speak hope, wisdom, and life into everyday faith.
Listen to “Ancient Words” here:
What This Story Teaches
This testimony reminds us that spiritual growth often happens slowly over time through worship, study, prayer, obedience, perseverance, and daily faithfulness. God continues to shape His people through Scripture in every season of life.
Related Pages
- Faith Through Hard Seasons — testimonies about trusting God during grief, loss, hardship, and waiting.
- Stories of Faith — personal testimonies from individuals and families connected to faith, growth, perseverance, and God’s faithfulness.
- Christian Living — discipleship resources for everyday faith and spiritual growth.
- Discipleship in the UMC: Fishers of People — growing deeper through worship, study, prayer, service, and faithful living.
- Worship Resources — worship-centered reflections, music, videos, and teaching tools connected to spiritual growth and discipleship.
Closing Invitation
God continues to teach and shape us through every season of life. Whether you are just beginning your faith journey or have walked with Christ for many years, there is always more to learn, more grace to discover, and deeper spiritual growth ahead.
Learn more about Christian discipleship and spiritual growth through worship, study, prayer, service, and daily faith at PGUM.org.
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