{"id":1998,"date":"2022-07-12T17:32:57","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T21:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/?p=1998"},"modified":"2022-07-12T17:32:57","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T21:32:57","slug":"growing-pains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2022\/07\/12\/growing-pains\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Pains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I remember when I was a little girl we used to spend the summers down in the country. It was Regis, Melissa, Jason, and I. As we got older we received cuts and bruises while being rambunctious. To go along with those cuts and bruises some of us like Regis, whose head was harder than a brick, received several lashings with the fly swatter or the bottom of grandma\u2019s shoe. The way I look at it whatever was in grandma\u2019s reach; she was going to use to give you a popping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we got older and came into our pre-teen and teenage years we would have what the old folks call, growing pains. Growing pains is when you would have some minor aches due to \u201cyour bones stretching.\u201d As your body started to develop or \u201cfill out\u201d, there would be certain aches and pains that went along with growth. It wasn\u2019t the most bizarre thing that has ever happened but when you are going through it, it feels like torture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as the pains of growing into young adulthood were agitating, so can the pain that comes along with being \u201cset in your ways\u201d, being content, comfortable, or complacent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I want to speak briefly on how as humans we can get too comfortable that it takes some major for us to change our course of action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll use myself as an example. I was raised in a household with rules, structure, discipline, consequences, and most importantly love. When I graduated from high school I could have went buck wild because of the new found freedom but I would always hear daddy\u2019s voice when I was about to make a stupid decision. Now don\u2019t get me wrong, I had a hard head sometimes too, so that didn\u2019t keep me from making some stupid decisions, but it helped me not be too crazy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I mean daddy said don\u2019t drink or smoke and gave reasons why I shouldn\u2019t. I tested the waters- like most kids do. Though I had all the tools to go the way my parents intended me to; I still did my own things at times. Until I got myself in murky waters and needed my mom and daddy to come rescue me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that sound familiar to you? Even as an adult, we test the waters and we expect our Heavenly Father to rescue us after we have blown pass all the warning signs and red tapes in life. Or on the other spectrum we are too scared of the unknown and don\u2019t take any risks and life becomes boring and mundane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw a post that I thought was fitting for todays message. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When God wants you to grow, He makes you uncomfortable. <\/p>Unknown Author<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Do you agree or disagree? Let\u2019s start a discussion\u2026.comment below and make sure to like todays post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading the Bible we learn about seasons, we gain knowledge about purpose, God\u2019s will, His timing, etc. Do we ever sit back and really think about how often we put God on a shelf when things are going good?! Some folks only pick up their Bible or pray when they are going through things. I\u2019ll admit I\u2019ve been one of those persons. It took me being in constant pain and suffering that I learned the importance and the requirement to praise and worship God in all ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you realize our growth in God normally occurs most when we have valley experiences? But often do we forget the struggle when we reach the top of the mountain. We need God! And although we may leave Him, He never leaves us. The Bible tells us He will never leave nor forsake us. Saints do you believe His word? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are a very judgmental society although the Bible tells us not to judge. We think because he has a good job, a loving wife, both parents, his health is good, he lives in a big house, drives a nice car, etc\u2026.people assume he is happy and he is living the life. Money, status, and material possessions don\u2019t amount to anything in Heaven so why do we put so much priority to these things? It is what a person has on the inside of him, his heart and soul; that really matters. The poorest man on Earth could be the richest man in Heaven because of his love for Christ, his obedience, his service, his devotion to God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might have taken the poor man loosing everything in regards to material possessions to realize how poor he was in spirit. In fact the poor man may be much happier than he has ever been in life (in his nothingness) because he is now focused on going after God\u2019s own heart verses the latest BMW. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So to tie things back into todays subject (I pray you are still following me) whether we feel fully alive and vibrate or at our worst, we should always find a reason to show gratitude and thanksgiving to God. I know it is easier said than done but when we know better, we have to strive to do better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about that child who learns how to ride a bike for the first time without the assistance of training wheels. There is a lot of fear and anxiety that comes along with that because you don\u2019t want to get hurt and you definitely don\u2019t want to fall. But think about the joy that comes after you face your fears and that child is gone in the wind on that bicycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible talks about the importance of our discomfort. Take a look at the Beatitudes (screenshot from Biblegateway.com). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He came to \u201ccomfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.\u201d<\/p>Finley Peter Dunne <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

My brothers and sisters I want us to quiet ourselves and listen to what God is trying to say. If He came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, what is God saying to us? (Comment below)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of us are in the wilderness right now and instead of embracing the discomfort we are fearful, tense, anxious, and suffering from extreme heartache. Find the joy in your discomfort. Focus on Christ verses your aching heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My prayer is that this evening and in the days to come we will find the positives and rejoice in them even in the midst of our comfort or discomfort. Whatever season you are in right now: embrace God. Whatever season you just came out of: thank God. Whatever season that you are headed to: praise God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God we thank you right now and we praise Your Holy name and we thank you for comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comforted. For we know it is a reason for everything under the sun. God we know you are the author the peace and not of confusion God so we just ask You to continue to be in the midst and help us to see the subtle joys in our discomfort and have a continuous praise. God we know that even when you allow adversity, sickness, hunger, or whatever it is to come; it is for a reason and all glory still belongs to you. Help us to endure God. HELP ME TO ENDURE. <\/strong>Help us forgive and ask for forgiveness. Help us to be grateful and have a humble heart.LORD I NEED YOU! Come into my home, come into my marriage,<\/strong> come on my job, dwell within me. <\/strong>You are worthy of all the honor, all the glory, and praise. For ask these many blessings in Jesus name, AMEN. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I remember when I was a little girl we used to spend the summers down in the country. It was Regis, Melissa, Jason, and I. As we got older we received cuts and bruises while being rambunctious. To go along… Read moreGrowing Pains<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[160],"class_list":["post-1998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-listening-to-god","tag-growinghurtssometimes","content-layout-excerpt-thumb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/img_0844.jpg?fit=976%2C1695&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2574,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/05\/06\/every-family-has-that-one\/","url_meta":{"origin":1998,"position":0},"title":"Every family has \u201cthat ONE!\u201d","author":"Whitnee","date":"May 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others; be kind, humble, gentle and patient. Do not be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Strength"","block_context":{"text":"Strength","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/strength\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1114,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/07\/09\/bathing-in-contentment-7-9-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":1998,"position":1},"title":"Bathing in contentment. 7.9.2020","author":"Whitnee","date":"July 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.Job 36:11 When I was a little girl I used to love taking baths when I was at grandma\u2019s house- it was like a sleepover everyday! Grandma would make Melissa\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"#Contentment\"","block_context":{"text":"#Contentment","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/tag\/contentment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1544,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/25\/dear-mama-happy-birthday-mama\/","url_meta":{"origin":1998,"position":2},"title":"Dear Mama (Happy Birthday Mama)","author":"Whitnee","date":"August 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Mama, It\u2019s a party, it\u2019s a party, it\u2019s a party! It\u2019s a party in Heaven that is, down here we are celebrating your birthday but WE MISS YOU SO MUCH! This is your first Heavenly birthday. As I wipe the tears from my eyes and yell to wake Micah\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Peace"","block_context":{"text":"Peace","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/peace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/img_3274.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/img_3274.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/img_3274.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/img_3274.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/img_3274.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":477,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2019\/12\/30\/grandma-always-said-all-that-bread-wasnt-good-for-me-12-30-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":1998,"position":3},"title":"Grandma always said all that bread wasn’t good for me. 12.30.19","author":"Whitnee","date":"December 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I first learned I had the habit of eating bread and potatoes when I was younger. At the age about 8 or 9 (or even younger) I remembered being at grandma\u2019s house over the summer. Every night I would sneak in the kitchen and get two slices of sunbeam bread\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life & Health"","block_context":{"text":"Life & Health","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/life-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1832,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2022\/04\/28\/jesus-replied-be-still\/","url_meta":{"origin":1998,"position":4},"title":"Jesus replied \u201cBe Still!\u201d","author":"Whitnee","date":"April 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\ud83c\udfb6 You don\u2019t have to worry and don\u2019t you be afraidJoy comes in the morning, troubles they don\u2019t last always For there\u2019s a friend in Jesus, who will wipe your tears away And if your heart is broken, just lift your hands and say:I know that I can make itI\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Finding Peace"","block_context":{"text":"Finding Peace","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/peace\/finding-peace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/img_4557.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/img_4557.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/img_4557.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/img_4557.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/img_4557.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1233,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/09\/20\/drinking-from-daddys-well\/","url_meta":{"origin":1998,"position":5},"title":"Drinking from \u201cDaddy\u2019s\u201d well.","author":"Whitnee","date":"September 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday we celebrated Emmanuel\u2019s 9th birthday and Rico\u2019s birthday. Yes my middle son was born on my husbands birthday. When they gave me the choice to choose which date I would be induced, Rico and I instantly chose his birthday. I mean what better gift but to give your husband\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"#DrinkFromTheFountain\"","block_context":{"text":"#DrinkFromTheFountain","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/tag\/drinkfromthefountain\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1392-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1392-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1392-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1392-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1392-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1392-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbfCFX-we","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1998"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1999,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998\/revisions\/1999"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}