Rubber Bands, Grace and Growth
Have you noticed how important rubber bands are? It’s funny how so many times it’s the small things that make a big impact, and rubber bands are one of them.
I’m sure over the course of our lives we’ve played with rubber bands by stretching them, shooting them at people and propelling pieces of paper across the room like a slingshot. Have you ever done one of these things? I never figured out how to make a rubber band gun, but others did and man, it could hurt!
Rubber bands hold things together. They are stretched and have the ability to morph and grow with the shape and the size of the things they’re holding together. In fact, when they are good quality, they can hold a lot of things together and be stretched in a big way.
I believe this is a picture of our faith.
Any time there is growth in our lives, we are going to be stretched. We can’t get around this and we can’t ignore it. It’s a part of the process we go through. When we grow, we will be stretched as we take our next steps. A lot of times we don’t like this, and we are uncomfortable with the idea of it. So we are tempted to recoil and stay where we are, but that does not lead to victory. To win in life, to grow in life, and to have achievement in life we must embrace being stretched.
The Bible speaks about this in Psalms 84:6-7:
“When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.”
Psalms 84:6-7
Notice the Valley of Weeping was turned into a place of strength and growth. This speaks to being stretched like a rubber band in our faith. It’s in these moments that we grow and find new strength, fresh faith in a deeper connection with Him. And while this is uncomfortable, God uses it for His glory. He doesn’t cause it but He does use it for our good and to bring His purpose to pass.
When we are stretched like a rubber band, His grace is sufficient. When we feel like we are stretched to our limit, He is faithful. When we feel like we can’t go any further, He is there for you and me. We must embrace the idea of rubber bands, grace and growth. When you and I do this, I believe we can be what God wants us to be, and we can discover all that He has for us. The secret is letting this happen.
God knows how much to stretch us. He knows what we need. He knows what He’s doing. He is the genius and we are the student. Because of this I can chill in His purpose, and even when I’m being stretched I know He’s bringing about His grace and growth in me.
You may be in the valley of weeping right now. You may be stretched right now beyond what you like. You may be facing a mountain. But God is faithful and He will come through for you. He will perform all His good plans for your life – and the best is yet to come!
Let the rubber band, His grace and His growth have its perfect work in your life. Don’t give up. Take one step at a time. Jesus is with you!
May the Lord bless you and may you grow like never before and be all God called you to be.
Something good is going to happen to you,
PD
