Growing Pains

My son Drew woke me up at a little before 4:00 this morning to tell me that his legs were hurting…growing pains…time for some Motrin. Drew went back to sleep. I didn’t. I tossed and turned for a while until I decided to get an early start for the day.

Yesterday, one of my best friends called to tell me he was having a rough time. He and his wife have run the gauntlet over the last 6 months. He has been without a job and they have also been trying to sell the business they own. Their faith has been amazing through all of this, but yesterday he was just whipped…growing pains…time for some encouragement.

I spent the next 15 minutes recounting for him all that God had done for him and through him over the last 6 months. He has grown so much. I tried to “hold up the mirror” for him, to help him see truth instead of lies. He responded just like a new he would. He’s a stud.

Lying there this morning I was reminded that growing is painful at times. Spiritually speaking, God is changing us and that is rarely comfortable. The key is seeing the truth through it all. I tend to focus on the pain instead of the advancement God is taking me on in my journey. This is one of the reasons God puts encouragers and truth-tellers in our lives, so they can remind us of the progress being made. I have seen God in my friend over these last 6 months unlike any time in our 20+ year friendship. He has been going through spiritual two-a-days and now I believe God has something really great in store for him.

Take this opportunity to look at the pain you may be experiencing right now and try to see it through the spiritual filter of growth…of advancement on your journey. God is growing you. How you respond is up to you. Finally, who can you “hold the mirror” up for this week? Who can you stand by in prayer? Who can you encourage by telling them the truth about how you see God growing them?