God doesn’t promise a life without problems, and sometimes those problems even originate with Him. Jesus compared the Father to a gardener who cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful. (Jn. 15:2 NIV)
Perhaps that’s why we’re more aware of God’s presence during periods of stress or difficulty than when things are going well. He’s getting our attention, showing us things that need changing.
Isaiah provides another metaphor for God’s dealings in our life. There it’s the process of a blacksmith who forges change on an anvil. Isaiah says God created our exposure to the blacksmith who who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. (Is. 54:16) The “work” is changing the iron—our iron wills.
But through times of God’s work in our lives, His sustaining power never leaves us. When He’s done, we emerge stronger, ready to stand against spiritual attacks. We’re ready to respond to Him and to do good things.
Originally published September 21, 1984.
Picture: Lindenwood Park, Fargo, 2008. Picture by Solveig.
No comments:
Post a Comment