--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are no shortcuts to maturity in…" description: "\"“There are no shortcuts to maturity in discipleship; it was, is, and always will be learned over time and under pressure walking in union with Christ.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/r-alan-woods-1455_aging_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-maturity-in-di_2355709.jpg" --- # There are no shortcuts to maturity in discipleship; it… ![“There are no shortcuts to maturity in discipleship; it was, is, and always will be learned over time and under pressure walking in union with Christ." ~R. Alan Woods [2013]” quote by R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/r-alan-woods-1455_aging_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-maturity-in-di_2355709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/r-alan-woods-1455_aging_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-maturity-in-di_2355709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/r-alan-woods-1455_aging_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-maturity-in-di_2355709.jpg) > ““There are no shortcuts to maturity in discipleship; it was, is, and always will be learned over time and under pressure walking in union with Christ." ~R. Alan Woods \[2013\]”” [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maturity in discipleship develops only through time, pressure, and union with Christ, not through shortcuts. **In simple terms:** Maturity requires time, pressure, and Christ. Key Takeaway Embrace patient growth in faith. Themes faith discipleship maturity patience Mood reflective serious Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - church life - personal prayer - mentorship - adversity Key Concepts spiritual development character formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle pressure in your spiritual journey? - What shortcuts have you tried and why failed? A Different Perspective Growth can be stalled by seeking quick fixes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [R-alan-woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/r-alan-woods/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The character of Jesus can only be ultimately known experientially through the indwelling of His Spirit in union with us." ~"The character of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-character-of-jesus-can-only-be-ultimately-known-experientially/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “Everything I have learned has not come from books, it has come experientially over time under pressure walking with Christ". ~ R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/everything-i-have-learned-has-not-come-from-books-it-has-come/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“Jesus-shaped spirituality hears Jesus say "believe and repent," but the call that resonates most closely in the heart of a disciple is "follow me."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spencer/jesus-shaped-spirituality-hears-jesus-say-believe-and-repent-but-the/) [Michael Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spencer/) > [“The knowledge of our union with Christ...gives us confidence in prayer. It was when Jesus had begun to expound the closeness of this union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-knowledge-of-our-union-with-christ-gives-us-confidence-in-prayer/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“Prayer is the natural outgushing of a soul in communion with Jesus. Just as the leaf and the fruit will come out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/prayer-is-the-natural-outgushing-of-a-soul-in-communion-with-jesus/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [ “In my opinion, we will always be sinners in need of our Savior, Jesus Christ." ~R. Alan Woods \[2007\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/in-my-opinion-we-will-always-be-sinners-in-need-of-our-savior-jesus/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“It's not about worthiness, it's about willingness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/it-s-not-about-worthiness-it-s-about-willingness/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “There are enough hours in a day to know that you are truly loved." ~R. Alan Woods \[2013\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/there-are-enough-hours-in-a-day-to-know-that-you-are-truly-loved-r/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “Be annoyed and sin not" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/be-annoyed-and-sin-not-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “I have struck out more times than I can count, but I have hit many home runs as well". ~R. Alan Woods {2013\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/i-have-struck-out-more-times-than-i-can-count-but-i-have-hit-many/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“The idea that we are to be absorbed into the Deity is Gnostic in its origins and is quite antithetical to Christianity." ~R. Alan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-idea-that-we-are-to-be-absorbed-into-the-deity-is-gnostic-in-its/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “‎"If we are truly the Lord's, we all walk with a limp" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\] \*Note: 'Jacobs Ladder'.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/if-we-are-truly-the-lord-s-we-all-walk-with-a-limp-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “The Love of Christ in us never fails". ~R. Alan Woods \[2013\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-love-of-christ-in-us-never-fails-r-alan-woods-2013/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“No one can claim to possess another, only God has the legitimate right to posses us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/no-one-can-claim-to-possess-another-only-god-has-the-legitimate-right/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“The more important point is that Reality is much more 'nuanced' that we may imagine. Operationally co-existent economies make for a much better fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-more-important-point-is-that-reality-is-much-more-nuanced-that-we/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) ## More by R. Alan Woods > [“The more important point is that Reality is much more 'nuanced' that we may imagine. Operationally co-existent economies make for a much better fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-more-important-point-is-that-reality-is-much-more-nuanced-that-we/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“No one can claim to possess another, only God has the legitimate right to posses us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/no-one-can-claim-to-possess-another-only-god-has-the-legitimate-right/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “The Love of Christ in us never fails". ~R. Alan Woods \[2013\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-love-of-christ-in-us-never-fails-r-alan-woods-2013/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “‎"If we are truly the Lord's, we all walk with a limp" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\] \*Note: 'Jacobs Ladder'.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/if-we-are-truly-the-lord-s-we-all-walk-with-a-limp-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“The idea that we are to be absorbed into the Deity is Gnostic in its origins and is quite antithetical to Christianity." ~R. Alan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-idea-that-we-are-to-be-absorbed-into-the-deity-is-gnostic-in-its/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “I have struck out more times than I can count, but I have hit many home runs as well". ~R. Alan Woods {2013\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/i-have-struck-out-more-times-than-i-can-count-but-i-have-hit-many/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “Be annoyed and sin not" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/be-annoyed-and-sin-not-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “There are enough hours in a day to know that you are truly loved." ~R. Alan Woods \[2013\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/there-are-enough-hours-in-a-day-to-know-that-you-are-truly-loved-r/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“It's not about worthiness, it's about willingness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/it-s-not-about-worthiness-it-s-about-willingness/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “In my opinion, we will always be sinners in need of our Savior, Jesus Christ." ~R. Alan Woods \[2007\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/in-my-opinion-we-will-always-be-sinners-in-need-of-our-savior-jesus/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“Faith without reason produces a mindless Christianity which is less than useless; the focus on justice in this world produces a theology that chases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/faith-without-reason-produces-a-mindless-christianity-which-is-less/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “‎"The only abject failure my mind can think of is ones failure to spend Eternity in God's Heaven" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-only-abject-failure-my-mind-can-think-of-is-ones-failure-to-spend/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “Knowledge & understanding mixed with ones convictions of 'experience' is hardly impositional". ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/knowledge-understanding-mixed-with-ones-convictions-of-experience-is/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “God accomplishes much through us His servants". ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/god-accomplishes-much-through-us-his-servants-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [ “Greed applied is prosperity realized". ~R. Alan Woods \[2006\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/greed-applied-is-prosperity-realized-r-alan-woods-2006/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) [Explore all 239 R. Alan Woods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are no shortcuts to maturity in discipleship; it was, is, and always will be learned over time and under pressure walking in union with Christ.\" ~R. Alan Woods [2013]”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. 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