“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.”
-James 1:2-4

If you have Christ within you, you have all the power to be a stable
presence in a violent, chaotic, and fragmented world. You are a rock. You
are like a tree.

A tree is a great descriptor of stability and strength. Jesus uses this word
often to describe a disciple living and thriving amidst the challenges of
life. The top of the tree bends in the wind. It’s flexible. As storms come,
it may lose some branches and its leaves may blow away, but in the end, that
trunk is strong and stable. As a tree endures a storm, and they usually do,
that tree actually builds a stronger root system and trunk.

You are like that tree. Every storm you go through, you will endure because
Christ lives in you. And every time a storm comes, you are only going to get
stronger and be more prepared for anything the future holds.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for redeeming the storms in my life, growing me
strong, making me more resilient and prepared for a future filled with hope.
Amen.

Reflection: How have hard times made you stronger?