The Spartan Blog

Growth is a universal desire. We all want to see it in our lives and in our children’s lives. Yet, as we all know, growth never comes without struggle. It’s in the moments of challenge, frustration, and difficulty that growth occurs. Just as a seed pushes its way through the soil to reach sunlight, so too must we endure hardship to experience genuine growth.

The Science of Struggle: The Myelin Sheath

In the world of neuroscience, there’s a process that beautifully illustrates the necessity of struggle in growth. God designed our brains with billions of neurons that communicate with each other. These signals travel along pathways insulated by a substance we call the myelin sheath. The more we practice a skill, the thicker the myelin sheath becomes around the neural pathways, making the skill easier to perform. However, this process doesn’t happen overnight. It requires constant practice, repeated effort, and yes, struggle! Just as an athlete must endure hours of focused training to improve, our students must embrace grit to push through academic challenges to build the "myelin" that will enable them to master new skills. The apostle Paul gives us our motivation for our hard work in Colossians 3:23-24. He says to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Our desire for growth and skill development is ultimately a reflection of wanting to build the traits and talents that God has blessed us with; and we in turn want to use those abilities to glorify Him.  

The Butterfly’s Struggle

Another example of grit producing transformational change in God’s creation is the butterfly. The caterpillar must fight its way out of the cocoon, struggling with all its might. We might be tempted to help, to break the cocoon and free the butterfly, but doing so would rob the butterfly of the strength it needs to fly. The struggle is necessary for its wings to develop the power required for flight. This beautifully represents the growth we want to see in our children. As much as we wish to remove their struggles, we must recognize that these very challenges are what prepare them for the future. The struggle is not a sign of failure but a critical part of their development.

Grit: Calvary’s Portrait of a Graduate

At Calvary Christian, one of the core characteristics in our "Portrait of a Graduate" is grit. Grit is the resolve to push through difficulties, to keep going when the going gets tough. This trait is not just about academic resilience; it’s about developing the character to persevere in faith, even when life’s challenges seem overwhelming. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Encouraging Families Through the Struggles

It’s important to remember that growth is a process, often marked by moments of difficulty. Here are three ways you can support your students as they encounter seasons of struggle:

Be Patient and Encouraging: Growth takes time! When your child is facing academic or personal challenges, remind them that it’s okay to struggle. Encourage them by celebrating small victories along the way. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Model Perseverance: Our children learn more from our actions! When you encounter your own challenges, model perseverance and faith. Show them how you rely on God during tough times. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Pray Together: There is power in prayer! When struggles arise, take time to pray with your children. Ask God for strength, wisdom, and perseverance. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”