I was a late bloomer as a girl. I grew and developed much later than my classmates. I thought I would always be short and undeveloped. God took care of that. I eventually grew and developed. And I had growing pains along the way. I remember having leg cramps at night as a girl. I suppose that was part of the growing I had so wanted to do. Same thing happened as a believer in Jesus. I wanted to grow in my relationship with the Lord, but I started off really slow. Eventually I started growing. And there have been lots of growing pains along the way. Lots of learning, lots of being tested, lots of trials, lots of needing to be humbled, lots of need for repentance, lots of crying out to God to help and change and grow me. He has, and He is, and I know He will continue to do so.
The growing pains so to speak have been really hard. So much of the time I didn’t think I would make it through all the refining and such. But God has helped me through it all. And now, at long last, I can look back and say I am so very thankful to God for not giving up on me, for all He has done to bring me to where I am now, for how He has brought me closer and closer to Himself, and for how He uses me so much in others’ lives to help them become and remain totally devoted to Him. And, believe it or not, I am thankful for the growing pains. I am thankful for what God has chosen to do along the way to lead me to where I am.
It’s not so easy to be thankful for growing pains. But I believe when we look at the big picture of learning how to follow Jesus, we can choose Thanksgiving for all that is the will of God. Growing pains included.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 KJV