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Resilience

Though many who presume to preach the gospel of salvation would deny this, they give people the impression that, upon believing the gospel, all trials and troubles will flee. While it is true that if we walk in truth and righteousness we save ourselves untold evils, it is evil which the Lord uses to break us and mold us after His likeness. And these trials can be far more difficult than those we had previously.

Take Paul for example. Was he whipped, stoned and beaten with rods when an unbelieving Jew according to the flesh, sitting amongst friends at the feet of Gamaliel?

The evils applied to us for good develop invulnerability and immortality.

 

Resilience, where would I be

If not for your helping hand?

At one time I was deathly ill,

So vulnerable to the slightest afflictions.

Scratches would hold sway

Like a pestilence

And linger in my soul

For years.

But now like a ball of Indian rubber,

I bounce away from a wall of brick

Whereas once I was as an egg.

The past is a fearful jailor,

A formidable tormentor as well.

With an iron grip,

With shackles and chains,

It held me

In bitterness and regret,

In shame and dismay,

In helpless thoughts

Of revenge and amends.

Not so now.

Resilience has come,

Riding upon healing,

Healing harnessed in pardon,

And now I am free.

 

Afflictions still come

And pain is there

From enemies far greater

In power and number

With liberties of warfare

Given to them

And denied to me.

But whereas a scratch was once

A mortal wound,

Seemingly,

Now a mortal wound,

Seemingly,

Is but a scratch.

There is life in me

The enemy cannot touch

Much less overcome.

I am sheltered in a

Mighty Fortress,

Impregnable.

He has carried me to safety

And there I trust in my Savior

Rather than fear my destroyer.

Resilience, you are mine.

 

Lethbridge, Sept. 30, 1984

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