I took my youngest daughter Kaiah, pictured above, to see the Hobbs family’s pediatric dentist today after her incessant complaining about excruciating pain in one of her top teeth. I first noticed her discomfort at dinner a couple nights ago when she bit into her food and subsequently began crying.
Of course, I was very concerned. It’s not normal for Kaiah to break down in tears whilst chewing. I figured something more was going on.
As I investigated the problem a bit more closely, I noticed the tooth gave way with the tiniest push from my pointer finger. But, later that night, when I clenched it to assess whether or not it was ready for extraction, Kaiah winced. Once again, her eyes welled up as she muttered, “It hurts.”
Poor thing, I thought. She was seriously ailing.
So when we arrived for our dentist appointment this afternoon, I explained to the dental assistant what was transpiring. She listened, took notes, cleaned Kaiah’s teeth, and prepped her to see the tooth doctor, who would then explain in detail what was happening.
When our silver-haired dentist with the kind face emerged, he was quickly briefed and responded by adjusting his eyeglasses, angling the overhead light, and peering inside Kaiah’s mouth with his dental mirror. He then ordered an x-ray, which was completed in just minutes, after which, Kaiah and I stepped into his office for a consultation.
When the dentist showed me the film of Kaiah’s teeth, it revealed things the natural eye is unable to see. As he spoke, he moved the small cursor across the screen to focus my eyes on the areas in question. I was fascinated when the he pointed out the permanent tooth—made visible through the x-ray— that was pushing down on the baby tooth, and trying to force it out.
I could see it so clearly.
The pain in Kaiah’s mouth was being caused by this in-between phase, a sort of friction or collision between the temporary and permanent tooth.
Her dentist assured me the pain would subside, however, in just a couple days because the primary tooth has no choice but to give up its spot. He even suggested twisting the tooth to dislodge it more quickly, so the process won’t be unnecessarily delayed.
Both Kaiah and I breathed a collective sigh of relief upon learning that no serious issues were occurring, just the usual growing pains.
This made me think about how, both naturally and spiritually, growth hurts. Progress is often painful. And discomfort is inevitable when we’re suspended between what is, and what is to come. Whenever we are on the precipice of change, we are forced outside our comfort zones, because what is “now” and what is “next” cannot peacefully coexist perpetually.
Something has to go.
You see, at some point, if we ever hope to advance beyond where we are, there are simply some things and people that will be forced out. This has to happen to make room for the new thing God is doing in our lives.
Does it hurt? At times, yes it does.
But every pain is not an indication of something being wrong. Au contraire, sometimes, pain is an announcement that something is right. If that discomfort could be accompanied by words, it would say: out with the old, in with the new; out with the good, in with the great; out with the mediocre, in with the extraordinary.
God is doing a new thing.
To remind you of this, I’m stirring Isaiah 43:19 ESV into your cup of inspiration. It reads, Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup, you’ll understand that when God gets ready for something new to spring forth in your life, it is often accompanied by a momentary pain or uneasiness.
But don’t worry.
Instead, take 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT to heart that says, For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
Don't get bent out of shape over the pain that leads to promise.
Tell yourself, "God is setting me up for something and preparing me for greater."
Don't fight against it. Don’t prolong the process by holding onto the old longer than you need to. Cooperate with God. Release what was and embrace the now-ness and newness of what God is doing.
Now let’s pray.
Father, thank You for helping me realize today that discomfort always accompanies the process of making progress. Please help me not to be afraid, dismayed, worried, or anxious about being pushed beyond my comfort zone. Instead, remind me that pain births purpose and out of problems comes promise. Today, I thank You for strengthening me to endure my momentary afflictions with the expectation of greater things to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
