Well, I spoke too soon. I feel like the other day’s progress has been wiped out and I’m back to square one. I just received notice of Rachel’s comment on my previous post that back pain goes through ups and downs so thank you, Rachel, your comment helps me alot.

I tend to think that turning a corner means only “blue skies ahead.” But as Rachel pointed out, that’s not the case and I need to hear that. Rachel herself has struggled with back pain, so she’s the expert!

And ya’know. Spiritual growth is the same way. We might feel empowered in a certain spiritual struggle. We feel like we will never be tempted again to be angry or bitter or resentful or discontented or…you name it. But low and behold (or is that lo and behold?), someone does or says something that makes us angry, bitter, resentful, discontented, –you get the idea. What happened? What happened to our victory and confidence that we’d finally overcome this struggle? Hadn’t we turned the corner?

And isn’t God discouraged? Isn’t God disappointed in us? Hadn’t He also expected perfection?

But Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, God knows we won’t be perfect now, short of heaven. And our struggle keeps us depending upon Him.

Yes, over time we will make progress. And I’m trusting that over time, in God’s plan, my back will heal. But it sure seems like a long time. So thank you for your encouragement, everyone. And your comment, Rachel, in particular.