GROWING PAINS...

As most of strive for GROWTH in the New Year, we will come to find that it is NOT easy. Indeed, many of life’s lessons can be painful OR difficult. Yet, such challenges are often the ones that present the most opportunity for SPIRITUAL growth. This initiation for growth will come in many forms. A job we don’t want to spend another day at, a broken heart that feels as if it will never heal, or a long and painful illness. How about the challenges that can be just as scary because we are being called to step up to the plate in ways that we may think we are not yet ready for…overcoming our fears in order to realize a lifelong dream, leaving behind a situation OR people in our life that we may have outgrown, or moving across the world for our dream job OR life partner. This year will test us unlike any other we’ve encountered in our past. Undoubtedly most of us will feel UNCOMFORTABLE, FRIGHTENED and UNSURE of what to do. However, I believe that God does NOT give us more than we can bear AND he is ONLY seeking to encourage us to grow. As we experience our share of GROWING PAINS this year, all we need to do is put one foot in front of the other, as we work through the challenges of life. This year we maybe asked to let go of OLD safety measures, shift OLD patterns of behavior, OR step into the abyss of the unknown. When we do rise to the occasion, we end up better off for having made that journey. Not only do we end up learning and growing, but we inevitably become more compassionate to the challenges of others and wiser in the ways of the world. Our faith in the universe also grows because, ultimately, we can’t help but realize how much we are supported and taken care of at all times. When we are in the midst of a growing period, it is not easy to see our reward, but it is there, waiting for us to grow big enough to reach it.