Church Family,

Lately, Frankie and I have been in a season of loving the daily breakthroughs and moments we get to witness and share with our son. It seems like every day he learns something new; a sound he can make with his mouth, a new toy or object around the house he wants to inspect (and put in his mouth), a food that he loves. These are small moments that are evidence of how much he is growing and learning.

One area our son is still developing is in his ability to be mobile. He’s not quite crawling, but he really, really wants to. Watching him rock back and forth, try out his hands and knees only to fall on his belly frustrated, crying because he can’t reach the toy he wants; these are all things that make our hearts ache a little bit because our instinct is to step in and help. Don’t hear me as saying we never step in to help our son because sometimes it is necessary, but we also recognize the value in allowing our son to learn and grow from the challenge and frustration. It’s hard to watch him struggle, but it’s also good to allow it because we know what awaits him on the other side of that struggle: growth and new skills.

I imagine this is a lot like how God views and interacts with us. He is a God who cares deeply for his children, and for that reason, he allows us to endure hard things because He knows that we will be strengthened through the experience. This brings my mind to a passage at the beginning of James:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James, 1:2-4, NIV)

I may not “enjoy” hardship and trials the same way I enjoy a good cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream, but I am indeed joyful that I am loved and cared for by a God who can see things that I can’t, who created me with the resilience to get through hard things so that I could be nearer to Him.

The next time you are going through something difficult, consider how you might be strengthened and matured by it. Consider how this challenge might draw you nearer to the Father who loves you and created you to be in relationship with Him.

Peace,
Pastor Val Soto