God Will Bend You. He Won't Break You.

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Day 1 | God Will Bend You. He Won't Break You.    

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." 

2 Corinthians 4:8–9, ESV

 

On a recent trip, my daughter and I were on a walk through the woods, and she said, "Dad… Will you make me a bow and arrow?" "Why," I said. "Cause I want to shoot my brother!" My response, "Well, sure, how big do you want that?"

We found a small oak tree, like a sapling. Cut it down and built a bow. We needed something fresh, wood that would bend. You can't just find an ole stick and put a piece of twine on it, pull it back, and be ready to go. No, it would snap!

When believers go through times, get discouraged, and snap. They don't know how to be flexible.  Too many Christians lose heart and think that God is trying to break them down. They lose a job, lose a loved one, hit hard times in the marriage or parenting, or at work with their employees or boss, and say, "God, what are you doing? Are you trying to break me?"

God doesn't break people, but he does bend them. The Apostle Paul keeps this in perspective. He says it out loud, he writes it down, and he even tells the church and the leaders in Corinth to read and preach on it! 

You may feel God is trying to break you down. You may feel worn out and left all alone, but you have to remember, God promised never to leave us or forsake us.  We are called to "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Dt. 31:6)

The Devil comes to kill; God has come to give life. The Devil comes to break down; the Lord's has come build up. (Luke, 4:18, John 10:10) Our God is a healer and a helper. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds our wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

Yet, we often are surprised when Trials come, we get frustrated, angry, and even blame God. (I Peter 4:12) Some of the trials we face in life are the consequences of our actions, while others are not. God uses it all for our good, and we shouldn't be surprised when we face trials and temptations, knowing God always gives us an escape. (I Corinthians 10:13-14)

As Christians, we should hold to a new Beatitude, that says, "Blessed are the flexible, for shall not break." Too many times, we become so inflexible that we lose perspective, sweat the small stuff, lose our joy, and become Mr. or Ms. Grumpy Pants. Walk around gripe and complain, we lose our patience and our cool, and we fail to be flexible and blow it, at times we snap. God will bend us, but he won't break us if we learn from his word.