I've been praying lately that God would draw me into greater levels of maturity, but I've been reflecting also on the reality of 'growing up'.
I'll give you an example, when I was a teenager, I participated in a 3 month student exchange to Quebec. Inevitably a time of homesickness,loneliness, frustration and discouragement peaked and during the third month, about three weeks shy of returning to Ontario, I called my parents in tears, begging them to let me quit and come home. Logically, I knew in my head that I just had to stick it out and in due time circumstances would shift and everything would get better, that this moment was just a hurdle in the final stretch of the journey but my heart felt like it was at it's breaking point.

So the thing about growing up is that the hurdle still exists for me - it's when I am on the final stretch of a big spiritual learning curve. The deal is that NOW when I get to that place of homesickness (for the 'easier' times) loneliness, frustration and discouragement and I call my parents, I just can't bring myself to tell them that I want to come home...I know that they can't make that decisio for me. So I just hold back the tears on my end of the line and reassure them that I'm happy and that I'm making good decisions and that everything will work out.

So in my opinion, growing up stinks.

Maybe the maturity part though, is that when I am in that tough place, to realize that I just have to tread water for a little while longer and then the tides will change and relief will come and I will emerge from the deep waters stronger (in Him) and weaker (in Him!).

"...in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling;

    He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

    Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me..." Psalm 27:5-6