Thinking back to GCSE geography lessons I can just about recall the different types of rock sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. Sedimentary rocks are soft and crumbly, igneous made from molten lava are much stronger. Metamorphic rocks though always intrigued me - formed when sedimentary or igneous rocks change chemical structure under intense heat and pressure. Humans too, can change under the pressure of challenging situations. The question is what determines how we react under pressure? Does it reveal our strengths or our weaknesses? I watched Invictus last week...it amazes me how Nelson Mandela could spend so long in prison and come out ready to forgive. Forgiveness, I think, finds its true meaning in demonstration. Mandela demonstrated forgiveness as he started the process of uniting a nation. Christ demonstrated forgiveness through his death on the cross.
How we react under pressure is often a reflection of the true people we are inside. One of my all time favourite songs is 'stained glass masquerade' by casting crowns. The song talks about the masks we often hide behind, particularly in churches, pretending everything is ok, closing off the hurt and pain and weaknesses in our lives. But we are not made to live like this - to settle for a life that looks good on the surface but is a mess on the inside! Jesus came so we could be transformed completely inside and out...it's a continuous process, as we open our hearts to him we are transformed more and more into his likeness.
Proverbs 3:27 says "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." It's who we are inside that really counts, the people we are when no-one is watching, the people we are when put under pressure. Lets be people who dig deep into God's word like setting foundations into solid rock. People who are able to withstand pressure and come out stronger. And let’s be people who are real - not hiding behind masks but who are open to God's power that transforms lives and builds character.
How we react under pressure is often a reflection of the true people we are inside. One of my all time favourite songs is 'stained glass masquerade' by casting crowns. The song talks about the masks we often hide behind, particularly in churches, pretending everything is ok, closing off the hurt and pain and weaknesses in our lives. But we are not made to live like this - to settle for a life that looks good on the surface but is a mess on the inside! Jesus came so we could be transformed completely inside and out...it's a continuous process, as we open our hearts to him we are transformed more and more into his likeness.
Proverbs 3:27 says "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." It's who we are inside that really counts, the people we are when no-one is watching, the people we are when put under pressure. Lets be people who dig deep into God's word like setting foundations into solid rock. People who are able to withstand pressure and come out stronger. And let’s be people who are real - not hiding behind masks but who are open to God's power that transforms lives and builds character.
No comments:
Post a Comment