Give Them Room to Grow

We all go through trials in life—some of our own making, others that hit us out of nowhere. God never promised us a life free from hardship. In fact, scripture shows us over and again just how real and intense our trials might be. The good news is, we are not the first. He gave us examples—people who walked difficult paths before us—to show us how to respond.

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that the trials we face aren’t meant to destroy us. They are invitations—holy ones—to draw nearer to the heart of God. They remind us of His passionate love, His desire to be with us in every valley, and His willingness to guide us even when we stumble. When we turn to Him in our trials, He pulls us close, whispers His presence, and, if needed, gently redirects us. We only need to listen. Again and again, He’s willing to reroute us—not out of frustration, but because of His commitment to us.

Trials test us. They stretch us. And just when we feel like we’ve reached the end of our strength, God steps in—not always to remove the burden, but to show us how strong we are through Him.

This year in my English class, I created a presentation to provide students with some tips on how to earn an A in the course. We called it “Be Fancy.” It didn’t take off overnight, but slowly, something shifted. A few students started asking how they could grow in their reading and writing. They took more risks. They began to think beyond themselves. Some even started to show up differently in class discussions.

But a funny thing happened—fewer of them were interested in earning an A, but they did still want to be fancy. They wanted a firm foundation. They started asking questions, and wanted to know how to best decide what evidence to use in their writing, they grew more confident. And, some discovered they were “yocks”—a new word to me—people who insert just the right amount of humor into a situation. “Give them room to grow,” I heard God say and so we did. “Let them shine” and they did.

Not everyone wanted to be funny. Seriousness took its place and joy surrounded them in every small victory. A joy that shows up when a student who struggled to write two or three sentences learns they can write a full essay on their own. A transformation occurred for some, but mostly for me, as I waited and listened, I noticed just how compassionate and eager to embrace our world so many are.

Heavenly Father, we are all learning more about ourselves and our world everyday. Not a day goes by without a reminder of all the good and wonderful ways you work to bring more joy and compassion into your lives. Thank you Lord for all the yockiness and allowing us room to grow. Have a beautiful day, God. Amen.

Y'all have a beautiful one!

All My Love,

Jen

For more information about Get Strong with Jen! click here.

Spots of Joy - Prayer for PTSD - Day 8 click here.