In the Storms of Life, there is One thing that we can always count on to be True! As Christians, we know that whatever hurdle we face ( no matter how 'hard' it may seem ), whatever trial or tribulation comes our way, no matter what temptation or difficulty we face, our Heavenly Father is Above it All, and will never let us fall!
The popular mantra, in such times is, 'God will never give us ( you? ) more than we ( you? ) can handle'! This is a true saying, and worthy of all acceptance, but some of us, for one reason or another, beg to differ ( especially those who are currently going through these struggles ). Another popular one, a bit more 'fluffy', but still as true, 'if He brings you to it, He'll bring you through it'. With all the support we need at our finger-tips, how can we fear or despair!
We are told by David, king of Israel, that 'He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone' ( Psalm 91:11 & 12 ) We are told by the apostle Paul that, 'God [ is ] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [ it ]' ( I Corinthians 10:13 ) From the apostle Paul's word we have taken that mantra 'God will never give you more than you can handle' When you quote that to someone who is in the midst of all kinds of suffering and pain, though, the temptation before them is often to slap you silly, because they, for whatever reason, feel that God HAS given them more than THEY can handle!
The 'funny' thing is, both of the above passages are given in the context of the corporate Body, not just in an individual manner! The wisest king that Jerusalem ever held, and arguably the wisest man ever, Solomon, wrote these words, 'though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken' ( Ecclesiastes 4:12 ) To use another familiar phrase, 'no man is an island'! Without the necessary communion, man will die, both physically & spiritually! It is together, as the Corporate Body of Christ, that we are able to handle anything that Life ( life ) throws at us! Individually, we will stumble, will fall, but as a Perfect Picture of Unity, as a diverse yet whole structure, we stand strong!
This may sound like a mantra from decades gone by, by, 'by standing strong together, we will weather any storm'. Not only will we weather it; we will come through it with flying colors! Because of the Strength Within, we can do it; the question is will we!? When one individual member ( Romans 12:5, I Corinthians 12:27 ) is hurting, or going through any given trial or tribulation, he or she quickly finds that he or she is not alone ( far from it! )! Our heavenly Father, as we read in I Corinthians 12:24-26, has composed the Body of Christ, the Church, so that 'if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it'. We can tell this from our human experience; if one of our many body parts is not functioning correctly, sooner or later, the rest of our body parts will take notice of it, and usually protest!
The question is, 'HOW we will weather the Storm'! Will we try to make it on our own, stubbornly refusing the proffered Hand ( up ); or will we stand in unity with the Body of Christ, accepting that We are One though diverse, that there is Unity in our Diversity ( 'it takes all kinds' )! Can we make it on our own, can we individually become stronger or more self-sufficient? There would seem to be some wisdom in the idea that we can or even should,. but is it the Wisdom from Above?! Our Heavenly Father has shown us that Communion is necessary to our very existence, He has shown us that, in order to function properly, just as our individual, biological body, all members of the Body ( of Christ ) must strive together, in their Diversity showing Unity!
As we hold each other up, standing strong through the Spirit within us, let us always remember that it is only through this Communion that we survive the Storms of Life, for it is through these struggles that the Body is strengthened, and finds its Reason for Living! Let us rejoice in this glorious fact, and together, Weather the Storm! Through the Grace & Mercy of our Heavenly Father, Amen & Amen!
Charles Haddon Shank
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