Growing Pains to Victory

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)” (Romans 8:18-25, NLT)

Sometimes there are seasons of our lives full of growing pains, adjustments, suffering, and sadness. Unfortunately, that’s just how life is sometimes. There are days when we wonder what it's all for; what is the purpose of our suffering and our sadness? That’s when we need to look past our circumstance and see the greater purpose– to honor our father and be a walking testament of his love.

In this chunk of Romans 8, Paul looks ahead to our destiny, the day that Jesus comes to take us home to be with the Father. Until then, He is lighting the way for you and your truly amazing future. Behind every bad thing, there is something good and pure. Even when it’s hard to believe, there is a will and way behind everything that happens in our lives and in this sinful world.

In order for us to get to this destiny and final destination, there are some growing pains and lessons that come along the way. I can tell you truthfully I don’t know everything because, well, I am only 19 years old and have only seen so much of this life. But I do know for a fact that through every painful thing we have to endure, there is a well earned blessing that follows.

We all do a lot of growing… physically, of course, but more importantly, we grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Trials come and go that God strategically places in our lives so we can grow and learn in the ways we need to. Most of the time, we want to go straight to our victory, but it’s the process of growth that makes us who we need to be both personally and for others that we meet.

Romans 8:27-28 says, “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (NLT)

Through the things we face and the growing we do, we can stand in confidence knowing that in our prayer and groaning, the Spirit intercedes for us, and listens to the desires of our heart. If we just get down to it, life is hard and there’s a lot of growing that we don’t want to do but we need to. At the end of the day, we truly have to trust in what God is doing in our lives. And that applies to everything. If you can’t trust God, you can’t trust the process.

There are great milestones and end goals ahead of you in your walk with Jesus right now, and whether you are lavishing in them or yearning for rest from your present trial, take solace in knowing that God is at work. He is bigger than the mountains and the valleys. Let’s just take a moment to surrender our current situation in prayer to the One who knows our groaning hearts and wants to be our comfort through it all.

Jesus,

I thank you for who you are and all that you have done in my life. I ask that you continue to guide me in your ways and give me strength to face all that is ahead of me. Help me trust your plan and purpose in this very moment and for the rest of my days. I am so undeserving of all I have, yet you freely give it to me. I love you so much, Jesus. Help me stay focused on you and you alone this week.

In your precious name, Amen