Forgive, Grow And Find God's Path for YouSample

God Stretches Us So That We Can Grow

The same God who designed and created our muscles designed and created our souls. He also created the process of nurturing our souls and rebuilding them from their fallen, crippled state. Just as we stretch our muscles to make them stronger, God stretches our souls to strengthen and grow them. Sometimes he “wounds” before he “heals” (Isaiah 30:26).

Suffering can tear down aspects of our character that need to be torn down and build up new aspects that we need in order to live as we were designed to live. The kind of suffering that God sends to us to help us grow can take us to places where one more season of comfort cannot. If we are in a season of suffering, we must ask God for his presence, healing and guidance in our distress.

The lesson here is that even in the times when it looks like God has allowed discipline in our lives, he promises a good ending. As Hebrews 12:4 – 13 teaches, even his discipline is for our good and flows from his love. As a result, as we continue in faith and responsiveness to him, we will see that all things work together for good (see Romans 8:28).