Some years ago, I received the shocking news of a breast cancer diagnosis during a routine annual mammogram. It was certainly not the news I had hoped for. As I reflect back on that challenging time, I realize that I faced a critical choice: would I grow from this experience and maintain hope for the future, or would I allow myself to remain trapped in my circumstances, fearing the worst? Interestingly, I was reading the book of Job during this period. Job's story focuses on Satan's actions, with God's permission, to strip Job of everything important in his life, and Job's unwavering response to his suffering in that.
The central theme of the Book of Job underscores how divine providence governs human affairs, and that God's ways surpass our understanding, especially when it comes to suffering. How do we evolve, grow, and change through adversity? For me, understanding the answer to this question was critical to my growth during this season. How would I choose to grow? Hebrews 5:11-6:12 provides us with insight into a compelling reason. In essence, these verses challenge us to grow in spiritual maturity, emphasizing that faith and patience will guide us to inherit the promise.
There is an old adage that says, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” This seems to be loosely based on 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” Perhaps a better phrase would be, “God doesn’t give us what we can handle; God helps us handle what we are given.” When God places us in a time of growth, do we submit and hand everything to Him, allowing Him to refine, grow, and change us? Or do we push against Him and continue to struggle?
True growth often occurs in the midst of struggle. Some struggles result from choices we've made, leading us to make new decisions to redirect or repurpose our lives. But what about challenges beyond our control, like the unexpected death of a loved one or the loss of a job? How do we grow from these experiences? Ephesians 5:10 says, "...and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." When our eyes are set on the Lord, we can better remain in His peace, which allows us to grow in a fruitful and hopeful way. James 1:2-4 instructs us on how to approach growth: "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith brings steadfastness."
Growing through trials and challenges can be compared to an oyster that has a piece of sand stuck inside it. The oyster's response to the irritant is to create a beautiful pearl. Similarly, when the sands of life enter our hearts, we can choose joy, submitting to and conforming to God’s will, growing in faith and spiritual maturity. Alternatively, we can reject the opportunity for growth, remaining unchanged. We all face obstacles in our lives. We can choose to grow and become overcomers, or we can remain stuck in our circumstances.
Change and growth is grounded in hope, and hope is rooted in the future. When we choose to hope, we choose to grow, and we are choosing a better future. To achieve this, we must grow and change to meet the challenges that will come. Reflecting on Paul’s writing in Romans 5:3-5 might help prepare our hearts to embrace the desire to grow. Paul says, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
In Christ’s Love,
Tracey
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