By: Sandra Crumbley
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
James 1:2-3 NLT
Do you remember the feeling of growing pains growing up? Those awful nights waking up with uncontrollable soreness. When you’re little it’s hard to understand what it really is, or why it even must happen. But as we grow older, we then understand how necessary and vital it is to endure this pain for our growth. In the moment, in the season, it stinks…it can be uncomfortable and even agonizing. But as we mature, we begin to understand the reasoning behind it. I feel like God allows us to grow in this same way. There have been handfuls of instances in my life where I not only question the struggle, but also question why God would put me through such a pain or trial. I have learned over time and have been reminded that most times, it’s NOT about the hardship at all. Like growing pains, we are all going to experience hurt, pain, and doubts; but it is in these moments where God is truly working through us to mature us, change us and grow us.
I clearly remember being put to this test not too long ago. My husband and I were so pumped to start the new year with a 21-day prayer fast. We surrendered a lot of things and prayed boldly every night together. Praying for specific things, people and situations in our life. One of those things being our finances. Both of us would love to have the ability to be able to travel more with our children, do more, share more and ultimately be good stewards. We finished those 21 days on fire expecting to see God move. He sure moved. It was just a couple days after that, my husband lost his job.
What?
Why?
Why put us through that God?
It is in THESE moments where we can either trust or crumble. Waiting in that season was not easy, it was uncomfortable, and felt extremely heavy at times. But it was during this time that I watched my husband fully surrender to God, in a way that he never has as this was the rockiest point in his life.Can you look back on a situation where it took pain to make a breakthrough? Not understanding it then while you’re enduring it but seeing the hand of God in it so clearly now? Or are you facing what feels to be like a storm today? With hurt, hardship, or heaviness? I am here to remind you; God is not done!
In James 1:2-3 it says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” It is in these hard times that God can stretch and mature us most. This recent trial for my husband and I was a big spiritual learning experience. Not only understanding without denial how powerful prayer is; but being able to pray from a place of victory and peace knowing God can and will change things. And he did, and I’m so grateful to say it was for the better. Let’s remember, we can’t pray for change and not expect change to happen, right?
One of my all-time favorite bible verses is Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able with his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish INFINITELY more than we might ask or think.” It’s not always an easy thing to endure growing pains. I understand now how necessary they are and how it is actually an honor for Jesus to have the heart to pursue us to not remain the same, but rather change, evolve and mature us for the better. All because he loves us and has INFINITELY more in store for us than we might think or imagine. So let us be thankful for those growing pains.