HOW TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE OUTCOME & TRUST GOD’S PROCESS

Product vs. Process…it is a constant battle between the outcome we seek and the process it takes to get there. Is one more valuable than the other? What does God say about trusting his process over the product?

PRODUCT VS. PROCESS APPROACH

I first encountered this approach when I was a high school English teacher. It applied to how I taught my students how to write. Did I care about the final finished paper or value the process it took them to get there? I remember long and heated discussions among my fellow educators about trying to achieve this balance between product and process.

Pieter Toth of the Learning Exchange, explains it well:

A process is a series of steps designed to lead to a particular outcome or goal. It is exploration, a journey, it is fluid, dynamic.  A product is the outcome or goal of a process. It is static, solid, fixed in a single moment, a snapshot, usually an artifact created through that process.  In terms of education, you could say that process is how learning happens and product is what has been learned.“

“Process vs. Product: The Knowledge Building Connection”

Sometimes we value the outcome more than the process. In our goal-oriented, results-driven culture it is difficult not to get caught up in wanting a tangible, measurable, and concrete product. Other times, due to our season of life or past experiences, we are patient enough to value working through the process.

PRODUCT VS. PROCESS EXAMPLES

Let’s apply this PRODUCT VS. PROCESS approach to some real-life examples. Have you ever adopted a plan to lose weight and get fit? I don’t know about you, but I am much more concerned about the outcome (product) of a slimmer toned body than the process of making healthy food choices and working out daily at the gym. Honestly, I kind of dread the process!

Similarly, there are aspects to parenting where we may be anxious to reach the final product. I remember the days of potty training, teaching my kids how to swim, and instructing a teenager on how to drive. The process can be slow, painful, and frustrating at times.

But there are those other scenarios where the process is just as enjoyable and satisfying (maybe even more so!) than the end result. There are creative pursuits like art and music where creating can be even more fulfilling than the finished project. And sometimes, following a set of steps and learning as you go is much more rewarding than the completion of a task.

ARE YOU A PRODUCT OR PROCESS PERSON?

While we all probably lean one way or the other, most of us can see the value working through the process to get to the final product.

Recently, I learned some valuable lessons about product vs. process through my new favorite hobby…jigsaw puzzles!

It all started with the lockdown as I looked for something fun to do instead of binge-watching Netflix while overeating junk food!

At first, my husband joined in, then my kids…fun family times, right?

Until my obsession took over, and I started ordering more puzzles, working on into the wee hours of the night, and boxing out anyone who tried to help.

After some serious contemplation (well, maybe not too serious!), I discovered that putting together these puzzles taught me both the value of process and product:

PROCESS: 🧩 Puzzles allow you to figure out your method at your own pace.

PRODUCT: 💙 There is a sweet satisfaction in searching for and finding the right piece.

PROCESS: 🧩 I can look at the picture on the box for help (I always like to know what I am aiming for!).

PRODUCT: 💙 There is nothing quite like seeing all those unique and disparate pieces come together to create a beautiful picture.

SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS OF PRODUCT VS. PROCESS

Unfortunately, trying to fit the pieces of our lives together is not as easy and fun as putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

When things seem as if they are not connecting, it can be challenging, frustrating, even maddening. And that is when we begin to worry, control, or manipulate. Ever try jamming a puzzle piece into the wrong space?

• We look at all the small, unique segments of our lives and find it difficult to make sense of how they connect and work together.
• We wonder what our future is going to look like because there is no picture on the box we can reference.
• We try to force similar-looking pieces (relationships, career, mental health, family, community, or spiritual growth) into the wrong spaces or give up trying.

Well, at least I do. Why?

Because (if I am honest) it is not easy to trust a process that I cannot see or control. And that is where faith intersects with real life.

TRUSTING GOD WITH THE PROCESS

The Bible talks a lot about faith in the book of Hebrews. When we stop worrying about the outcome and trust God with the process, we demonstrate this kind of faith.

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.”

Hebrews 11:1 (Good News Translation)

PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO TRUSTED GOD WITH THE PROCESS

In looking at the stories of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 (take some time to read the whole chapter), we see how they trusted God’s process before seeing the final product/outcome.

• Noah trusted God’s process of building the ark before he knew that the rains would come and destroy every living thing.
• Abraham trusted God’s process of sacrificing his only son Isaac before he knew God would rescue him.
• Moses trusted God’s process of freeing the Israelites and leading them to the Promised Land before he ever reached it.
• The Israelites trusted God’s process of marching around Jericho before they knew the walls would come tumbling down.
• Rahab trusted God’s process of hiding the spies before she knew they were going to rescue her and her family.

It is not hard to see a pattern here, is it? God gives us a few pieces at a time, shows us (through the Bible) how to put them together, and asks us to trust him with the final product.

Yet, we still doubt, worry, and question. We want to fast forward through the puzzling process and arrive at the fabulous finished picture. But God asks for faith first.

It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6 (The Message)

And that is when God reminds us that he designed the puzzle. He knows what it is going to look like even when it seems like a mess to us. It is a beautiful masterpiece, so that frees us to let go of worrying about the process and trust him with the outcome.

YOU CAN TRUST GOD WITH THE PROCESS

Whether you are a product or process person, there is a place for you here AT THE CROSSROADS! If you desire to join a community where you can meet others for hope and encouragement on your faith journey, I would love to have you as a fellow traveler. Sign up by filling out the form below, and you will receive weekly blog posts, monthly newsletters, free faith resources, and more!

If this post spoke to you in any way, would you mind leaving a comment, sharing it on social media, or even letting a friend know? It would be encouraging to hear from others who struggle to trust God with the process!