Stress and Strength
It is through stress that strength is revealed. It is not until the weight to be lifted or carried is in our hands or on our backs that we realize the strength of the Lord – His joy – within in us.
We make judgments as to how strong people are. That is why we refer to “super-human” strength when we see someone who lacks the physical appearance of strength lift something that we feel is too heavy for them.
Some people we expect to be stronger than they are because they look like they should be able to carry the weight.
We need stress to reveal strength.
The next picture I received was of a fire and a waterfall. I asked if anyone felt that the Lord was putting something on their heart about these two pictures.
Our daughter quickly shared that in pottery they often out the jars in the oven and then cool them in water. (“But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8)
I immediately saw the correlation to iron and the preparation of the sword.
Heat makes molecules malleable… they become mobile. And in their mobility they can be molded to different shapes. In the case of the metal becoming a sword that often means some serious banging with a hammer.
Then, once the sword is the right shape they place it in water to quickly cool it – or temper it – so that it takes the shape.
God’s love is an all-consuming fire. It is not because He doesn’t love us or care about us that we go through trying times… it is because He DOES love us that we do.
His Love makes us malleable. It makes us moldable. And when He gets the kinks out and shapes the blade of our faith. (“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,” 1 Peter 1:7)
And when we are in the shape that He intended, He washes over us with His Spirit to temper us… to shape us.
Stress and Strength
Mold and Shape
The Author and Finisher of our Faith
If you have ever wondered why you go through such trying times, if you have ever wondered why the Lord would allow such pain in your life…
Illness…
Betrayal…
Loss…
Waiting…
Seemingly unanswered prayer…
Remember…: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].: 1 Corinthians 10:13
“God will not protect you from what He will perfect you through.” (some guy on a video about Christian marriage… can’t remember his name.)
Press on.
Your blade will be sharper. Your faith… stronger.
SDG
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