Finding Hope and Healing in a Fallen WorldNäide

WEAKNESS ON THE INSIDE

We all know life can be hard. That’s why one of the secrets to a successful life is being stronger on the inside than the challenges life confronts us with.

Here in Colorado, we sometimes experience Chinook winds up and down the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. These weather systems produce dangerous wind gusts known to top 100 miles per hour. You can imagine the damage they cause. It’s not uncommon for a mature tree that has stood for decades to be snapped in half. But I’ve noticed something: When that happens, it often says more about the weakness of the tree than the strength of the wind.

Before a windstorm, you may have walked by a tree towering into the air and been impressed by its strength. But then a storm comes, and you suddenly discover what’s been happening inside the tree. It’s been rotting away from within and growing weaker with each passing year. It was only a matter of time before the tree cracked under the pressure.

Our lives aren’t really all that different. We may ignore the anger or bitterness we feel against other people. Or we entertain unhealthy thoughts and behavior, thinking they’ll be of no real consequence to us. But, those things weaken our mind and our character – that is, our inner life. Sooner or later, the winds of life will blow, and the pressure on us will be intense. To survive those storms, we need the inner strength we gain from our integrity, our faith in Christ, and the support instilled within us from family and friends.