[Faith-talk] Strength from storms

[WESLEY BURDEN]

Strength from Storms



"Is your life full of difficulties and temptations?

Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your

patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and

don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when

your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will

be ready for anything, strong in character, full and

complete."



     "The strongest trees grow not beneath the glass of a

conservatory or in the sheltered and sunny valleys.

The stoutest timber stands on Norwegian rocks, where

tempests rage and long, hard winters reign."



        I've never been to Norway nor have I felt the hard,

long winters there, but I have lived where winds blow

furiously. When planting young trees, it was important

not to stake them too tightly. Staking them loosely

(when they were little), the winds caused them to

develop and deepen a strong root system they needed to

stand the powerful winds when they had grown. We had

some trees break, but none ever fell. And where they

were broken, they grew again, strong and healthy.



        Life's like that. If we overprotect our children

when they are young, they will not be equipped to

withstand the challenges of life when the winds of

adversity strike. And, as adults all of us need the

storms of life to help us grow and become healthy and

strong in character--or we can allow them to make us

bitter rather than better--but that choice is ours.



         Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the

trials and tribulations that you have allowed me to go

through. Please help me to always allow them to deepen

the roots of my faith in you, and help me to grow in

love and every grace. Thank you for hearing and

answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,

amen."


Stu
<mailto:K5stu at sbcglobal.net>K5stu at sbcglobal.net
Reading your Bible today will help prepare you for A Brighter Tomorrow!
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