Every Good Thing Takes Time

A few months ago, I went through a series of restorative dental procedures that truly tested both my patience and my sanity. My complicated relationship with dentists didn’t start recently, it dates back to a ghastly accident I was involved in about a decade ago. The impact of that accident never fully left me, especially when it came to my mouth.

Since then, dental visits have felt less like routine checkups and more like ongoing construction projects. There always seemed to be something that needed fixing… always. Over the years, I’ve had few surgeries in my mouth, including a fractured jaw that required the expertise of oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgeons. Needless to say, the dentist’s chair became a place I approached with fear, caution, and very low expectations.

So when I recently found myself sitting through yet another treatment consultation, I already knew this was not going to be simple.

At my most recent visit, after consulting with several specialists at my dental office, I was given a treatment plan that required 11 fillings and braces.
Yes. Eleven. In one lifetime.

Now, let’s talk about the fillings.

It wasn’t until after they were all done that I realized getting 11 fillings at once was probably a terrible idea. For weeks, I was extremely uncomfortable. I went in and out of the dental office, telling the team involved in my treatment plan that I couldn’t chew properly and that something just didn’t feel right. Each time, I was advised to eat soft foods and reassured that, gradually, I would adjust.

Honestly, I kept wondering…
How exactly does one adjust to eating normally with 11 fillings and braces?
Was I supposed to just blink twice and magically become okay?

They made a few adjustments and continued telling me the same thing: it would take time for my bite to settle. And as hard as it was to believe then, they were right. Today, I feel very comfortable chewing again. Looking back, I can admit that my constant complaints must have tested their patience but discomfort doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Sometimes, it simply means something is changing.

And unfortunately, there is no fast-forward button for change.

Life Rarely Skips the Process

This experience mirrors so many areas of our lives. The truth is, most of us want to skip the training, healing, or adjustment phase and move straight into the enjoyment phase. We want the results without the work, the testimony without the trial, the glow without the growth.

But life doesn’t work that way.

I was so ready to get my beautiful smile back. I even dreamed of a Hollywood smile. My doctors knew that removable aligners wouldn’t work for me because if I could take them off, I probably would. And once something can be removed when it gets uncomfortable, it usually will be.

So instead, my orthodontist recommended Damon braces- something fixed, something consistent, something I couldn’t abandon when it started to hurt.

Not the easiest option.
But definitely the most effective one.

Because sometimes growth requires commitment you can’t escape.

Biblical Perspective: Growth Takes Time

The Bible repeatedly shows us that God values process just as much as promise.

Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Forty years of wandering, questioning, and learning, long before the breakthrough (Exodus 3).

Hannah waited years in deep anguish before she had Samuel. Her prayers didn’t go unanswered; they were being timed (1 Samuel 1).

Even Jesus Himself spent 30 years preparing for a ministry that lasted just three. If anyone had the right to skip the process, it was Him but He didn’t (Luke 3:23).

Scripture reminds us:

“Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” — Habakkuk 2:3

God doesn’t rush preparation, because what’s unprepared rarely lasts.

Real-Life Examples We Often Overlook

Many people we admire today endured long seasons of failure, disappointment, and “this is not working” moments:

• Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before inventing the light bulb. One of my favorite quotes of his is:
  “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
  Imagine quitting at attempt 9,999.
  
• Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming a global symbol of freedom.
  
• Steve Jobs was fired from his own company before returning to rebuild Apple into a global giant.
  

The success we celebrate is usually the result of patience we never saw

The Importance of Retention

This is my second time getting braces, and that alone carries a lesson. The first time, I didn’t fully adhere to post-treatment instructions especially wearing my retainers. And as a result, I lost what I had worked so hard for.

Painful lesson.

Isn’t that just like life?

We pray for blessings, work hard for success, finally receive what we’ve been waiting for and then forget that maintenance is part of the miracle. Just as teeth need retainers, success needs discipline, consistency, and stewardship.

You don’t just win, you have to keep winning.

Final Thoughts

Whatever we desire in life: education, career advancement, marriage, children, healing, or personal growth will require patience, consistency, and commitment.

Discomfort doesn’t mean failure.
Waiting doesn’t mean stagnation.
Disappointment doesn’t mean it’s over.

Sometimes, it simply means you’re adjusting to something new and adjustment is unavoidable if you want lasting results.

There is no skipping the process.
No shortcut that actually works.And truly, every good thing takes time.