Growing Pains

Change is such a celebration but with any celebration there are bittersweet moments. Moments where the change that you want even hurts to obtain. There's a mourning in letting go of the former things in your life to give room to new things to grow. Yet sometimes we become so complacent with our circumstances that when we are on the verge of change there is a resistance and a sadness.

For me it is those circumstances and challenges that push me to grow. It’s when there is a beautiful chaos in my life forcing me to be balanced and at peace. When everything is changing at once and being presented with the options to change willingly or let it change me.

Both options sound about the same but what I realize is that when you do it willingly you have the power over what comes next. When you go through life doing whatever, you let go of your power leading to feelings of victimization and being out of control.

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I know this all too well because when I was about 13 years old I let life change me. The stresses of being a teenager was becoming apparent. I was introduced to boys, sports, and friends. Beginning my 8th grade year of school things started to make sense. Living in New Jersey at the time I started cheerleading and I was dating this boy and though he wasn’t every girls dream, him being so into me made him mine. I had friends but I didn’t know anyone very well just had one that I was closest too.

Not even four months into the school year my parents said we were moving to Savannah, GA. My life felt like it was crashing right before my eyes and change was inevitable yet the way I would handle it would be all up to me. Long story short my life became a bunch of decisions made for me about who I should date, what school to attend, and so and so forth. I didn’t know what I wanted out of this change but only what everyone wanted for me. At the time I didn’t care and just checked out on life. I’m reminded that those years that I wasted partying, making bad decisions, and not living my life authentically could not be regained.

Until I met Jesus and my life was forever changed. I believed that the years to come could be better than all those years I lost. That I had power and authority over how I viewed my life. I chose to surrender those things I could not control but put in all my passion to change what I can. Overall I learned to accept responsibility for my actions, thoughts, and feelings.

Life was not going to change me from being the joyful, optimistic, loving women of faith. Every change was going to be opportunity to become stronger in my faith and see just what I was made of. My hope is that the strength that I receive from God and my faith would be something that I could share and inspire others with.

All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

So as change comes be reminded that all things are working for your good. Even though everything that can go wrong is going wrong in your life stand firm knowing that this is the change you prayed for. This is the motivation to push past your comfort zone and help yourself and your family thrive. And for that, thank God and be confident that this time you will willingly change even if it’s painful.

-Peace & Favor