Strength in the Storms of Life
It’s a typical winters day in New England . . . whipping winds . . . bitter cold. Doesn't that sound appealing? Well, whether you like the cold or not, almost no one likes to be out when the wind chill is cold enough to freeze your nostrils shut. So, as I enjoy the beauty of winter from the warmth and comfort of my couch, I watch the trees rocking in the wind. It’s not the gentle swaying you get from a light tropical breeze wafting through the palms on a Caribbean island. No, this is more like the ‘knock you on your rear’ if you stood in front of a turbine in a wind tunnel.
It amazes me how flexible trees can be, even trees that are three stories tall. Their whole body moving in the wind, from their trunks to the tips of their limbs. It completely defies what any sane person believes about wood. Our wood dining table and chairs are meant to be rigid and strong . . . strong enough to bear our body weight. So, how can wood be so sturdy, yet so flexible?
The flexible trees remind me of this scripture “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Wouldn’t you agree that every human undergoes storms in their lives? Sometimes they can be gentle ones, only ruffling the edges of our being. At other times they can be as wild as a hurricane, shaking us to the core. However, God made both trees and man to withstand storms. This is evident in the many trees in my yard. But when I see a downed tree or a broken limb, it’s also evident that there was something wrong. Living trees can be weakened by many things such as wounds, disease, chemicals or lack of nourishment, making them unable to endure the damaging winds.
This is true of people as well. Before I gave my will over, trusted Jesus and was reunited with God, the only strength I had was my own. A strength which often failed me when difficulties came. Like so many people, I had wounds from my past, did not always seek the right type of nourishment and made lots of poor choices, all of which made me weak. But now my wounds have been healed, my poor choices forgiven and I have God’s strength living inside of me. It is His strength, not my own, that helps me bear the brunt of the stormy blasts. Sometimes the storm will be brief and other times last a long time, but with God I may bend but I will not be broken!
Be blessed,
Jeanine
It amazes me how flexible trees can be, even trees that are three stories tall. Their whole body moving in the wind, from their trunks to the tips of their limbs. It completely defies what any sane person believes about wood. Our wood dining table and chairs are meant to be rigid and strong . . . strong enough to bear our body weight. So, how can wood be so sturdy, yet so flexible?
The flexible trees remind me of this scripture “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Wouldn’t you agree that every human undergoes storms in their lives? Sometimes they can be gentle ones, only ruffling the edges of our being. At other times they can be as wild as a hurricane, shaking us to the core. However, God made both trees and man to withstand storms. This is evident in the many trees in my yard. But when I see a downed tree or a broken limb, it’s also evident that there was something wrong. Living trees can be weakened by many things such as wounds, disease, chemicals or lack of nourishment, making them unable to endure the damaging winds.
This is true of people as well. Before I gave my will over, trusted Jesus and was reunited with God, the only strength I had was my own. A strength which often failed me when difficulties came. Like so many people, I had wounds from my past, did not always seek the right type of nourishment and made lots of poor choices, all of which made me weak. But now my wounds have been healed, my poor choices forgiven and I have God’s strength living inside of me. It is His strength, not my own, that helps me bear the brunt of the stormy blasts. Sometimes the storm will be brief and other times last a long time, but with God I may bend but I will not be broken!
Be blessed,
Jeanine
Posted by Jeanine Black at 1/1/2010 2:45 PM 
Categories: Strength, Faith, Encouragement
Tags: Jeanine Black
Categories: Strength, Faith, Encouragement
Tags: Jeanine Black
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