He is in pain. I took my son to the orthodontist this morning. They tightened his braces, inserted a stronger wire, and pulled his teeth into an ever-straighter line. Right now, the benefits of stronger, healthier teeth are not in the forefront of his mind. His mouth hurts.
Sitting in the orthodontist’s office provided me with an opportunity to see God at work – in me. I have a crooked, twisted, jagged soul. Sin bends my heart in ways that are not healthy. Left to its own wisdom, my heart leans away from God. The cross is the tool God uses to straighten me out.
The problem is that it is uncomfortable in the moment. I want to be whole. I long for health and His well-being to permeate every part of who I am. The path to that wholeness requires some discomfort. He has to go in and apply pressure, loosen sin’s grip on my heart, redirect my motives, reshape my attitudes, and align my soul with His purpose.
Transformation is never easy. Learning is a process that requires time, commitment, endurance, and patience. If I want to be different tomorrow, I have to be willing to change today.
My Jesus Resolution today is to learn the lesson from the orthodontist. Like my son, I have to keep my eye on the goal. He is willing to endure the pain of the moment in order to have a healthy smile down the road. I have to carry that same perspective. I want to look like Jesus. I want His character to shape my character and His nature to become second-nature to me. In order to do that, I have to be willing to let go of some comfort in the moment in order to conform to His image.
Casandra Martin 
This made me think about something I read in Hebrews recently. “He learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8). Even our Savior found the process of learning to obey God a painful one, and He did it perfectly! Thanks for the great reminder, not only is the pain normal, it’s a sign of growth!