Just Thinking

My fence lies broken in my yard. What a mess! It used to be a strong fence, atleast that what all the neighbors thought. What they didn't know was that it was falling apart, and all it took was for stormy winds to come and blow it down. This is exactly what happened, and now I can't hide how broken it is. I need a new fence. However new fences take resources; they take skill to build. The good news is that the resources have been provided in a way I never counted on, and I have found skillful wood-workers to build the fence. Here comes the new fence! It will be better than the one before. It will be able to stand storms that the other one couldn't.

I too have spent the last few months lying broken. Prior to October of this year, what many people didn't know was that I too was falling apart, like my fence. I had been trying to avoid some hurts (both from others and from myself); I was spent. Then, came October. I abruptly resigned from my position at a church where I was serving, leaving relationships in ruins. There were multiple reasons for doing this, which I don't want to elaborate at this time. Suffice it to say, this experience left me in a dark and damaged place, and it was impossible to hide my pain any longer.

The next few months were some of the most difficult that I have ever had. I felt like such an immense failure. I had no emotional resources left. What I did not know was that the LORD was in the process of rebuilding. He had the resources. He was the skilled wood-worker who was going to rebuild my life so that it would be stronger than it was before.

There will be more storms; I'm sure of it! However, because of this experience, I have learned that the LORD is a wonderful builder, and He has made me stronger to endure the next storms that come, reminding me that it is not my strength that holds me up.

In the same way a fence is only as strong as the skill of the builders, so it is true with the LORD. He is an incredibly skillful builder, and because of that, I will stand firm, trusting the Mender of fences.