I’m in the process of getting my hair back to a healthy state. A couple years ago I was under a lot of stress and that caused the hair at the crown of my head to fall out and trail down towards the middle. When those areas tingle, get sore or I feel overwhelmed, I get nervous that all my progress towards growth is regressing.  

Then I was reminded that growth can be painful. 

Take for example, a baby getting his/her first tooth. That’s a good milestone and a sign of an appropriate stage of growth. However, that growth moment is accompanied with pain by the tooth breaking through the gum.

Growth can be painful. 

Take another example, the goal of saving money. Oftentimes doing this means you’re spending less on frivolous things, such as skipping coffee dates, not buying new PS5 games and eating out less. The pain comes with denying yourself the instant gratification for a long term and more sustainable benefit. 

Growth can be painful. 

In my case, just because those areas of previous hair loss are sore or irritated doesn’t mean it’s falling out again. It could be new hair breaking through the skin and prayers being answered. 

Growth can be painful. 

Similarly, growing in God can be painful. Painful in the sense of denying the flesh, shedding bad habits, leaving your comfort zone, accepting people for a season, you only being accepted by others for a season, not following the masses, changing your thought patterns, having better financial awareness, etc. Isaiah 43:19 has been on my mind all week. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

God is calling someone to grow and now things, people and even your physical appearance are starting to look different. Your friend circle may be expanding even though you feel like you’re not the best at friendships, maybe those goals you set at the beginning of this year has been replaced with new ones God whispered to you at night or maybe your old methods aren’t getting you results anymore. Do you trust God in all these changes? Can you see the good in them even if it was unexpected?

Newness, pain and growth can all be intricately woven together only because God is that perfect at being God. God wants to and is going to do something new for someone. Do you see it? When life starts looking different, whether in your physical body, such as my hair for instance, ask God if these are pockets of growth moments and an invitation to trust. Then, lean into it and let the Lord produce the best and newer version of you. 

Growth can be painful, but it can also be the basis for God to build through you in a new way. 

See you next week!