Running into the Savior’s embrace
Childish pretending blossoms to spiritual maturity
The following essay is the second reflection for our May focus on the spiritual practice of Study. Read more here about our exploration of the spiritual disciplines in 2025 through creative and reflective writing.
By Judy Allen
It was an inspiring day in early first grade. My friend and I were thrilled about all we would learn, and we’d even have homework like the big kids. We couldn’t contain our excitement! So, we got on the bus with our arms full of books and boasted about how much homework we would do that evening. When we arrived at our homes, I suspect we had a snack, left the books in a heap to be picked up the following morning, and went outside to play.
I have no idea what books we brought home, perhaps Fun with Dick and Jane, and since we attended a Christian school, maybe a song book or a Bible. We must have thought it was impressive to thoroughly investigate Dick and Jane. Memories from my early grade school years are sketchy, but I distinctly remember those moments.
It was fun pretending to study, but we weren’t ready for it. Children learn by playing, pretending, and observing, and they put us to shame with how much they retain.
Jesus welcomed innocent playing, pretending, and observing little children who were open to wonder, who didn’t have preconceived notions about Jesus, and were genuinely drawn to him, like many others.
People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17
Running into Jesus’s welcoming arms to truly rest in his embrace, savor his love, and be protected and provided for by his power is heavenly. However, our faith shouldn’t remain childish. We are to grow in spiritual maturity, and to do that, we must study the Bible. Researching and reading writings, commentary, and other works from diverse theologians is also helpful.
After first grade, I soon learned that study was a necessary means to an end, such as good grades and a university diploma. When I began my career, I didn’t study like I did in school, but to learn new skills, understand the business environment where I worked, gain approval, and receive promotions. Once again, studying was not the destination, but the vehicle used to arrive at the destination.
Similarly, study as a spiritual discipline is a method by which we learn more about Jesus, the grace and mercy of the one true God who loves us, and how He works in and through us. He is also omnipotent, omnipresent, perfectly just, and all-powerful. We might be tempted to throw up our hands and confess that it’s beyond our human brains, which is true, but God has given us everything we need to know Him better. He is far more than children’s Bible stories communicate, and we benefit from mature, wise, and knowledge-based thinking.
The Holy Spirit is essential for opening our minds to insight. Therefore, the first step is always to pray for His assistance. With the Holy Spirit’s help, study engages our intellect and ignites our imaginations. Richard Foster describes the discipline of study as containing four steps: repetition, concentration, comprehension, and reflection. In my experience, these four steps of study have transformed my thinking by renewing my mind.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to be dissatisfied with the spiritual milk of infancy.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14
Some people are more drawn to study than others, but at a minimum, study involves reading your Bible, perhaps in different translations, and asking yourself how to apply what you’ve read to your daily life. To further digest the nuance of the Bible, reading commentaries by trusted authors, memorizing passages, meditating on Scripture, and journaling are good options. The more I study, the more I realize how little I know.
Thankfully, there are multiple resources available written by theologians who have studied, searched, and prayed for insight. Commentaries are helpful if you’re looking for explanations of a particular passage, and it’s beneficial to read diverse theologians, for you will discover differences in interpretation. Websites like The Bible Project give a nice overview of the books of the Bible and offer many other study helps.
There is no end to the study of Scripture.
My family moved when I was in second grade, but my friend and I stayed in touch through high school, went to the same college, and are still good friends today. This year, we’re reading through the Bible in a year and talking about what we read each week. We’re studying, maturing, and have come a long way from pretending.
I still run into the Savior’s loving embrace. However, thanks to study and spiritual maturity, it’s clear that Jesus is a greater, more wondrous, and astonishingly loving Savior than I had realized as a spiritual child.
Judy loves God and his Word and writes to encourage those who are in the late adulthood stage of life to see these years as wonderful opportunities to explore their purpose, contribute in new ways, discover more of their identity, and grow closer to God. Her writing can be found at judyallenwrites.substack.com.
SAVE THE DATE - upcoming webinar
Unbiased: Creating Diverse Characters Without Offense
Thursday, May 15 · 10:00-11:00am PT / 1:00pm-2:00pm ET
Have you ever had a character or story that you wanted to share, but the complex diversity (gender, race/ethnicity, ability, status, etc.) caused you to hesitate or stop entirely? You want to share your character’s story, but don’t want to offend anyone. What do you do?
Learn strategies for developing well-rounded, diverse characters that reflect a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. The session will focus on avoiding stereotypes and cultural appropriation while emphasizing the importance of authentic representation. Through discussions, examples, and practical exercises, attendees will gain insights into who should tell specific stories and how to respectfully portray characters from different walks of life, ensuring their work is inclusive, sensitive, and impactful.
About Our Presenter:
Torrie Sorge is a bridge-building communicator who helps people navigate the intersection of diversity and discipleship with clarity, grace, and hope. Through thoughtful speaking, sensitive editing, and transformative consulting, Torrie equips high-capacity leaders, authors, and everyday believers to see and love others like Jesus—boldly, inclusively, and authentically. Rooted in faith and guided by empathy, her work creates space for hard and holy conversations that turn intention into grace-filled impact.
This webinar is free for Redbud Writers Guild members (no need to register), $15 for non-members. All proceeds go to support our Women of Color Mentoring Program.
Recordings will be sent to everyone who is registered.
P.S. Know someone who might be encouraged by this post or interested in our upcoming webinars? Feel free to forward this to them!
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Thanks for highlighting so many avenues for study! I am grateful for these reminders!