Growing Pains

My legs used to hurt so much I felt I couldn't stand it.  Many times I couldn't settle into sleep at night.  I guess they didn't know then that extra calcium would have relieved the ache... I vividly remember the night--it seemed like it was the middle, the very darkest part of the night--that my mom put me in a tub filled with warm water.  She swished the water around and murmured comforting words, "It's just growing pains...they won't last...this pain is because you're growing taller."  But I would have amputated those legs in a heartbeat.  Gladly.  And been crippled for the rest of my life.


It's very, very hard to recognize discomfort, much less pain, as a good thing.


Growing pains can easily be mistaken as an indication of harm or trauma rather than growth.


So how do I know if what I'm suffering is trauma or growth?  Is the current discomfort a sign of something terribly wrong or gloriously right?


If you've ventured into new territory, decided to make changes, are attempting to leave behind the status quo, seize the dream that's stirred your heart...you will experience growing pains.  In the same way your arms and legs grew too long for your brain when you were a teenager, your heart has outgrown your current equilibrium. Inevitably, venturing into unknown territory will rattle your sense of identity, confidence in your ability might waver.  All because you've been bold and brave enough to reach for more, bigger, deeper, higher than you've ever gone before. 


This discomfort is good.  It's a sign of growth.  It'll make you lean into the Source of strength, wisdom, and grace.


There will be moments when it would be so much easier to back off, back down, back up...anything to relieve the discomfort.  Don't do it.  Hang in there.  Remain focused.  Remember the words He has spoken--both the ones written in the Book and the ones that He's breathed into your spirit.  His words are spirit and life, the calcium that eases the growing pains.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all.

Run to God!

Run from evil!

Your body will glow with health, 

your very bones will vibrate with life!

Proverbs 3:5-8 MSG

*John 6:63

We Did It!

Did you notice?  I've been so busy this week that I didn't realize it until this morning.  We survived January!  In fact, in many ways we thrived through January.  This seems worth making note of, even celebrating.  


Like the kids, standing tall, hoping the line behind the pantry door is higher than it was the last time we measured...  They're uninhibited in their joy over the increased height. Their growth brings joy to us because we love them!  Facilitating their healthy growth is one of the most important goals of our lives.  How much more our Heavenly Father?


So I look back and I can see growth and I'm excited!  I see my Papa smiling with me...  It's all by grace.  He's happy too...because all He's ever wanted to do is set us free and help us grow in freedom.  He wants to lend us His strength to conquer the giants we face.  I feel like we conquered January.  It was uphill some days.  For those of us who live well north of the 49th parallel there could be as much winter ahead of us as there is behind us, but there's a change in the air and the days are noticeably longer.  We'll make it.


We bring joy to His heart when we reach for and receive the gifts He's given.  You don't have to be getting every thing "right" today to make Him smile.  You just need to be reaching for Him in the midst of whatever you're facing...and one day soon you'll look back and see that you've grown.

 Don't bargain with God.  Be direct. Ask for what you need. 

This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. 

 If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? 

 If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate?  

As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. 

You're at least decent to your own children. 

So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

Matthew 7:7-11 MSG

Perseverance

When we came out of gymnastics tonight the sky was still light.  My heart leaped with hope!  Last week it had been dark.  My head knew the days were getting longer, but I hadn't been able to tell day-by-day.

Yesterday I had to deal with an employee--it ended up becoming a bit of a confrontation.  It was only afterward that I realized I was okay.  It didn’t take an hour for my emotions to calm.  That’s a big deal for me.  I hadn’t realized I was making progress in that area.  (Honestly, it’s about time!)

And so growth and change happen, often in little increments, barely perceptible, but eventually recognizable.

We can become discouraged, we despair and wonder if we’re making any progress at all...until one day we recognize the difference, we feel Spring in the air, the sun finally peeks over the horizon.

His promises to complete the good work He started in you are more sure than the coming of Spring.  You have His word on it.  Take heart.  Like the coming of the dawn, His life is growing inside of you.  Keep on keeping on--you’re on the brink of the glorious.

Blessing you with perseverance and grace.

We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul--

not the grim strength of gritting your teeth 

but the glory-strength God gives.  

It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, 

thanking the Father who makes us strong enough

to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. 

 Colossians 1:11-12 MSG