“BROTHER – THAT’LL PREACH”!
image courtesy of photobucket.com
Some of the smartest people in the country couldn’t figure it out. It kept them stumped for a time, but they did get it figured out eventually. It seemed the opposite should be true in the laws of nature, but some things aren’t what they seem in this life.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”! We’ve all heard that said, I’ve even said it a few times myself, but most of us try to avoid difficult times. There’s nothing gratifying to our senses about being strained emotionally or physically. The things we’ve endured emotionally from difficult times and other people have led us to the point with age or experience we can handle them. We may not like it, but we’re seasoned, tested, tempered to endure the hard way.
It’s not so different than the physical sides of our lives. If we want or need to pick up something or go a certain distance in a certain amount of time, we have to practice, we must endure discomfort in order to grow stronger. It is the law of nature designed by God. Strength must be earned.
The sheltered person isn’t going to be able to deal with difficult scenarios without going through some. The person camping on the couch a good part of their life isn’t likely to go out and win a marathon the first time out.
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” The most powerful king didn’t get a pass at tough patches. He knew God would be with him in the hard times, giving him wisdom from experience. God doesn’t promise us He’ll take us around the Valley of the Shadow of Death, He marches His chosen right down the middle of the valley, not so we can be praised, but so He that delivers us is acknowledged.
The scientists were living in the Biosphere down by Tucson for extended periods of time to emulate living conditions in a colonial space station. The trees and plant life provided the necessary carbon dioxide for the scientists to breathe. With time and growth as the trees began to reach maturity, their branches would shear off.
What the scientists discovered was that the trees grew with the absence of wind… The continuous changing, shifting and pressure from the external winds is what gave the trees the strength not to break under their own weight. As my friend and pastor Rick Efird expressed, “Brother – that’ll preach”!
Adversity is part of life and while we don’t enjoy the process it makes us stronger. I’m sure we’d break under our own weight or internal focus.
While the trees don’t know the origin of the wind, they can’t survive without it… When we look out from ourselves for the purpose of protection and provision for ourselves and others God’s placed in our lives we get stronger. The stronger the storm… the stronger we get.
Maybe an adjustment of our perspective should be used the next time trouble comes knockin’?
The world can knock… but it can’t knock us out…
That and the wind, are up to Him.
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 6:06 am
I agree that I am who I am and am better for the trials in life that I have gone through, I just wish that the hurricane force winds that I get from time to time would let up a little.
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 8:59 am
I hear you April. It does get a little weary fighting the fight, but He is our comfort, our peace and joy. I have to remind myself of that… that’s what this is really, God’s reminder to me. Hope it helps.
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 7:11 am
Really, really powerful post!
Large storms are brewing in my life and lives around me. But God is in the center of the storm, just have to keep my eyes fixed on Him.
This is one of my favorite posts so far! Thank you for reminding me that the storms make me stronger!
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 9:02 am
Thanks TC. Interestingly enough, I almost didn’t post this because I thought it was a bit weak… Then again, I am usually wrong about a lot of things… I know you’re in a rough storm right now. I’m praying for you, your husband and whole family.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 5:02 am
I’m sure glad you did post, Floyd! Nothing is further from the Truth!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 9:09 am
Thanks Diane, you just never know… you know?
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 6:42 pm
Life has so many ways to testing us. Some hardly notice the test, while other in a similar test bow down in pain and anguish. God knows just how much we can bare and he promises to not test us beyond our ability. I would not like it if there was NO WIND. Good Post Floyd !
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 9:11 am
Good call Hazel, no wind would leave us pretty bored and more like robots. The free will and our surroundings when lived according to His will can be gratifying and honoring.
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
The stronger the storm… the stronger we get. So true! I enjoyed the Biosphere in Tucson so much too.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 7:04 am
Thanks, nice to have another Arizonian on board!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 5:00 am
Wow, Floyd! This was great! And it was a preach! And the imagery with the trees…it really puts it into perspective. Thank you! I’m going to print this – it’s a keeper!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 9:08 am
Thanks Diane. It was a strong sign to me of God’s hand as well.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 9:06 am
Great post, Floyd! I never knew about the results of the experiment at Biosphere and the wind/trees. Some years ago, I visited, but it seemed deserted. Yes, God knows just what we need to hold us together. Thanks for putting the “wind” in our lives into perspective.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 9:10 am
Thanks Effie, and well said. That “wind” can be tiring, but obviously nourishing to our souls.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 2:34 pm
When we look out from ourselves for the purpose of protection and provision for ourselves and others God’s placed in our lives we get stronger. The stronger the storm… the stronger we get.
How true this is…yes I would say too, this preached…thanks brother.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 @ 4:37 pm
Thanks Betty. I just need a fairly consistent reminder…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 5:32 pm
The benefits of testing and trials are that when we successful go through them, we become better. I really liked you statement, “Strength must be earned.” This is so true, to become strong and mature we need to grow and learn from the testings and trials. Great post.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 5:46 pm
Thanks Dan, good point. The strength comes from learning. Strength is definitely earned, no one can give it to you that’s for sure!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 7:14 pm
I had an amazing counselor about six years ago. He always talked to me about the winds of life. How we get knocked down. He said it’s about the next time the wind blows, and it will always blow, it’s about getting up a little quicker, bending and not breaking and maybe not falling as far the next time. I look back on my life and see how strong the storms of life have made me, He grew solid, deep roots in me when the wind blew. And now I’m rooted in Him, the everlasting vine.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 7:31 pm
That was beautiful Audra. Very, very well said. I think you should use that as a base for one of your posts. Those words are awesome – God inspired words – strong from the winds words…