Yesterday morning my sweet girl had her archery lesson. She did really well, in this proud mama’s opinion, and was very excited. Last evening when we got home, though, she had a bit of a pain down her side. She asked me what it was – and I told her – it was probably a growing pain, or maybe from shooting her bow a lot. So we did the only thing to be done, in order to cure this particular side pain. I prescribed a cup of hot chocolate and a bit of time together, sitting and chatting.
We talked about the pain in her side, that it meant she was probably growing, or her muscles were burning because she had used them so much today. Either way, she was getting bigger and stronger. I can see she’s having other growing pains as well.
Just a few days ago she came in from playing outside with our neighbors. I could tell that something wasn’t right, her eyes were cloudy and her countenance was fallen just a bit. She began to relay the situation in which she felt like maybe she had said something unkind and hurt her friend. She asked what she should do. And I told her – she needed to apologize. After a bit of hemming and hawing, my sweet girl, bravely put on her shoes and went to make things right with her friend.
As a believer, the only way to strengthen my faith is to feel the burn; this is usually obedience to God’s word – often its painful, but the result is an emboldened, courageous faith. I watched my daughter’s growing pains in action as she walked out my front door… and wondered… is this the kind of faith I have? Willing to keep moving through the pain in order to be a stronger, more fit believer? I don’t like these thoughts because I don’t like pain. I don’t embrace the uncomfortable parts of my life. I try to get away from them.
Hebrews talks a lot about faith, reviewing so many different stories of struggle and trials that end in amazing ways – but they all have the common thread of faith. The writer in Hebrews 12 describes what our faith in action should look like:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
I am thankful that he is building faith in my life and in my daughter’s. I am hopeful that we will continue walking through our growing pains together.
Lord,
Thank you for this gift of faith. Let me view the hard places in my life as a gift as well ; give me the strength to walk through them in obedience rather than walking away from them. Help me to live in a way that pleases you. amen.
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
daily portion 