Devotional thoughts from Christine Wong-Moon: Middle campus EA and MC/SC parent
Zechariah 13:9 “...
I will refine them as silver is refined. And test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people” and they will say, "The Lord is my God".
By exposing steel to extremes of heat and cold it can be tempered and strengthened. As it turns out the key ingredient in this process is the carbon content within. Not enough carbon and the metal can be damaged in the tempering process, becoming brittle and easily broken, unable to bear a load. Alternately, high carbon content within the metal allows it to go through the same extreme process, while maintaining its flexibility, pliability and essentially determining its strength. Our faith in God and His promises is our carbon core which, in adversity becomes our strength and flexibility allowing us to bend and not break.
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”
Newton’s Third Law: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”
We cannot change our current circumstances. All of us are struggling and rallying in our own ways. By trusting in our loving, caring, creative and redemptive God we will find strength and see the ways He is at work bringing light into places of darkness. During this Pandemic we have witnessed communities coming together to support one another in creative and unprecedented ways, we have watched our earth beginning to heal from the wounds we have inflicted, “good news” is saturating mainstream media, families who are socially isolating are rediscovering simple pleasures like the family meal and game nights. At 7pm in a show of appreciation for our often-overlooked frontline workers, people can be heard banging pots and pans. For every hard thing pressing against us right now there is an equal and opposite opportunity for goodness to flood in. For every “no” that halts us in our track's “yeses” are opening up. For every small loss, a blessing to be gained. For every action an opportunity for reaction. There is much we do not have control over, but we always have the ability to choose where we place our focus and how we will move forward. We are called to be the salt and the light in this world.
So, my friends...my faith family.... I wish to encourage you in this historic and hard time, know you are being strengthened and refined. Do not let adversity make you hard. Stay soft hearted, it is your strength. Hold fast to your experiences and lessons from this time. These stories of strength, loss, sorrow, community, joy, simplicity faith and perseverance...these hard-won gifts and profound moments of simple joys are yours to carry forward and impart to your children and your children’s children.
1 Peter 1:7 “
So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by a fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honour...”
