The Pain of Progress

This week our youngest had major surgery to reconstruct her hips. I have been saying that she is being given hips that won't lie. That's the hope anyway!

As she has been coming out of the anesthesia and working toward pain management and her normal personality, I am struck by the pain in her progress. Of course, she would prefer to never experience pain - and as her father, I wish she would never experience it either! But this pain, on purpose and intentional, is headed somewhere. It is bringing her to healing, functionality, better mobility and flourishing. These few days of major discomfort and the weeks of struggle ahead are all ushering something so much better.

I am stuck that our sanctification works much the same way. Our becoming more like Christ, slaying the dragon of self and living for Jesus' purpose and glory. It is not easy and we could often categorize it as pain or suffering. But just like Adia's recovery, this pain is part of the progress.

We run after too much that we assume is "pain" free and that never gets us to where we desire to be. On the flip side, we fight against purposeful discomfort because frankly, we are comfortable in our mess, our inability to flourish. Jesus means to end all that and bring you somewhere worthwhile. To the place your identity in him secures, promises, and provides.

Maybe we should lean into trusting his strength and process. After all, he is tremendously good and he loves you. I know it won't be easy, but it will be good.

I am praying for you as you face the pain in the progress.

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV)

Comments

  1. Aunt TeriNovember 1, 2017 at 5:20 PM

    Great article, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wes Van FleetNovember 1, 2017 at 11:59 PM

    Thanks for sharing. True, hard, but good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CharlotteNovember 4, 2017 at 3:04 AM

    Thank you for always looking to what God is doing in our lives in the midst of the challenges, Jonathan. Praying for Adia and you and Stacy and the rest of the family throughout this one.
    Love you all.

    ReplyDelete

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