This past Sunday as I sat in our Sunday Service, I heard the pastor say something that I haven't been able to shake for the entire week, something that will probably stay with me forever.

"We all want to live on the mountaintop, no one wants to live in the valley; but if you look at a mountain, if you have ever been to the top of a mountain, you know life can't survive up there. It's cold and desolate. All the flowers, the plants, all life is found in the valley. Nothing can grow on the mountain top. Child of God, If you stay on the mountain top, you simply won't grow and that's not Gods' intention".

Growing Pains: every and any one to ever live has experienced a growing pain, or two. Yet, for the life of a believer, when pain comes and growth is expected, we take it by surprise and wince in pain. Mega churches and prosperity preachers have brought to surface the narrative that once you say yes to Jesus, all trials and hurts of life cease.

That could not be further from the truth.

Trials, hurts, disappointments, failed relationships, heartache; all these things will come, now more than ever before because as a child of God, you are now fighting an eternal battle and everything will try to oppose your entrance to the kingdom.

In fact, Peter warned us (1 Peter 4:12):" think it not strange the fiery trials that so easily beset you, as if some strange thing happened to you".

Call me crazy but.. this was a promise from God to us.

Trials are going to come, the pain will be real, the hurt will be great. It's going to happen but alongside that promise is one far, far greater: I will never leave you, I will never forsake you,I know the plans I have for you, plans of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.