Here, you will find encouragement, empowerment, tools and story telling as a way of advocating for all types of parenting, marriage, leadership and pretty much all the things.
Too many times this summer I have expected situational rest to give me what only God himself was able to provide. “That upcoming vacation, that’ll fix this soul wrenching exhaustion.” “Once the kids go back to school, that’ll fix it all.” “Well once this situation changes, then I’ll finally be happy!”
She began to look at me with anticipation in her eyes when she would question and cry, as if waiting for me to take it all away. She looked to me to give her things I am physically unable to, so what now? Do I pretend? Do I make promises? Do I act wiser than my soul knows I am? Do I teach? Do I just listen?
The other night I was watching a movie with my wife when Mason, my oldest came out weeping.
“What’s wrong buddy?”
“My legs hurt!” He choked out.
Upon inspection, there were no bug bites or bruises, it seemed as though he was struggling with something that all young boys go through: growing pains.
What’s ironic about this episode is that a day earlier he was expressing his joy and excitement to be getting bigger and older, but little did he know that growing hurts.
Growing hurts doesn’t it?
As a young disciple I have been continually surprised by the amount of pain that growing in Jesus has provided for me and my family. They didn’t tell me this when I began learning about God during the seeker friendly movement of the mid 90s. From the obvious lessons in character development, to the deep seeded dealings with my own personal sin.
I am always left in awe at both how badly I want to be shaped and molded into the character of Christ, while at the same time how much it hurts. Growing hurts.
Why are we surprised by this? Doesn’t God’s word promise it? Certainly we aren’t foolish enough to believe life is easy as we pursue Christ? Upon sharing some of these struggles with some of the staff working for me a good friend directed us to 2 Corinthians 4:7-11.
“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11”
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
We have been given this opportunity to grow not because we need to become ‘better people,’ but because God’s glory ought to be displayed through us.
The power of the gospel should be displayed through us, even in our pain and suffering, and as God continues to grow and mold us we ought to anticipate seasons of severe growing pains.
For Mason, that night I was able to remind him that these pains mean he’s getting taller and older, all of what he desired, and that they were a part of him becoming who God has for him. As I spoke these word to my little buddy I was reminded that God is at work doing this same thing in us.
We have to learn to embrace this type of pain and not run from it. Spiritual growing pains are a great indicator that we are being shaped and molded into the person God would have us be. It can sometimes feel like an all out assault on our physical, mental and spiritual selves yet in reality, God is doing exactly what He had laid out to do. It hurts, life hurts sometimes, but God’s promises remain the same. When clinging to the truth, we can see that He is a good Father. In just the same way, I had to send my little man back to bed, after some love and promises, still knowing he was in pain, I knew it was temporary and I knew it was good for him. God sees you and knows your pain and will always comfort you in those dark days.
How lonely it can be to live in pain, to live in sadness or anxiety and not feel the freedom to let it out. To feel so soldiered up that you truly start to believe just that, that you’re a soldier… going into battle, prepared to fight off anyone and everyone that may attack, that may attack your protection bubble you’ve created out of fear.
