Growth through pain

https://odb.org/2025/12/03/growth-through-pain

Psalm 119:65–72 (NIV): 65 Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD.
66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

The brain is remarkably small, but stress can make it even smaller. Recent research has revealed that cumulative stress can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for managing emotions, impulses, and social interactions. This shrinkage is linked to anxiety and depression, highlighting the toll that a lifetime of stress can take. But there’s good news—the brain’s plasticity allows it to heal through intentional practices like exercise, meditation, and meaningful relationships.

Like our brains, our spirits are capable of being stretched. God uses this stretching to cause growth and renewal. Through Scripture, prayer, and a Spirit-inspired perspective, He can reverse the effects of our hardships. He can use our afflictions for our spiritual growth, transforming pain into purpose. (Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread, 3rd December 2025)

While in the natural stress may be harmful to the brain in the long run, stress also induces growth in our intellectual abilities in the sense that more of our brain’s capacity is utilised. Thus, as we study and work hard, we get better at the things we do. That is why for a young graduate, we always emphasise exposure is more crucial compared to monetary returns. It is much better to earn lesser a bit doing more, than earning more doing nothing much. Even at the end of our working life, the debate is whether to continue working or retire completely and do nothing as sone say idleness may well shorten our life. Perhaps people without a sense of purpose drift away and die younger.

But in the spiritual realm, the principle is clear. The more we go through for God and Christ, the more we will grow in our faith, our knowledge of Jesus Christ and in our spiritual maturity. This is because suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces character and character produces hope as per Romans 5:3-5. We should follow the LORD’s exaltation for Joshua – “be strong and courageous for I am with you wherever you go.” Face life courageously with a strong faith despite the struggles and the hardships. Look at the unseen things in life as that is faith, for the seen is temporal while the unseen is eternal.

Have a great day ahead today! Remember, it is through the hardships in life as we face them courageously with faith grounded in Christ that we will grow spiritually and fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our lives. Take care, everyone and God bless us all in all that we do!