Doctor’s estimate that about 40 percent of children go through some kind of growth pains. Parents often don’t know what to do. They will often rub their child’s arms and legs to help sooth them the best they can.

There is no clear answer on what causes growing pains. Some say it’s caused by bone growth. Others believe it might be discomfort caused by climbing or running throughout the day.

For the child of God, they too may have to face growing pains. In Psalm 139:23-24 it says, “²³Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

The Psalmist cries out to God and says, Lord please take a good hard look at me.  Look deeply into my heart and see where I am lacking. And Lord, if you find anything wrong within me, test me. Wait, did I read that right? Did he say, “test me”?

I don’t know about you, but I’m not into asking God to send me trials. Are you? Isn’t there another way? I’m afraid not, to become mature in Christ we must grow up. We must experience growing pains. Paul said when I was a child, I reasoned like a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish ways. How bad do you want to become like Christ? Enough to ask God to look deep inside your heart, and to adjust as needed?

I wish I could say this is my prayer for every day of my life. But it scares me. I want to surrender, but then I read the story about Job and it scares me even more. Yes, I know in the end Job wins. But it’s the getting to the end that scares me. So how do we do it, I think we must become like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Lord, please remove this cup from me, but if there is no other way, then your will be done not mine.

Lord, hear my prayer. Please lead me in your everlasting way. Examine me and fix me so that I will grow up in Christ Jesus. Lord, I know you know what I need best, and I fully trust in you. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.