Amy Yohe penned our devotional this week. Be sure to head to the contributor’s page to learn more about her.
Ever feel stretched to the point of snapping? That feeling can bubble up and threaten to dramatically erupt for a variety of reasons.
- Too many things vying for top priority
- Something big that’s beyond our human ability to handle
- Unplanned interruptions or unmet expectations
- Unexpected bad news
As women of faith, we know those times haven’t caught our God off guard, and we know He will strengthen us through them. But how do we “keep it all together” as we endure those times of intense pressure? How do we not only survive but also thrive?
I recently found encouragement, inspiration, and challenge in John 21:11 in the words “yet . . . not . . . broken.” One of our assistant pastors was preaching an incredible message from John 21, but what God had for me was completely different than the points he was making.
“Yet . . . not . . . broken” jumped off the page, reminding me that the responsibilities I have are ordained of God and with those responsibilities comes the strength needed.
I dug into the verse a little deeper and then traced the story backward in the passage to see what other truths and applications could be mined. Here are a few…
- The supernatural strength of the net was necessary because of the 153 fish in the net. I’m pretty confident I could list at least 153 things vying for my attention right now. That’s a long list, but the strength behind it is omnipotent if I rely on the Source of that strength.
- The blessing of those fish came after a night of seeming failure and a season of grief, fear, confusion, and maybe even hopelessness. Hold on during those times. They have a way of dimming temporal distractions and helping us focus on what’s most important.
- In that moment of failure and exhaustion, the disciples were within earshot of the Savior. During times of overwhelming responsibility, fear, or grief, be attuned to the sweet voice of our Savior.
- The advice they were given by a “stranger” probably seemed like a waste of time. God’s ways are higher than our ways; God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Is. 55:9). We must be humble enough to consider the advice of others (as long as it doesn’t conflict with Scripture) and be obedient enough to follow the truths of Scripture!
- Their humility resulted not only in a miraculous catch but also in the realization of the nearness of their Lord. While we know He’s always near enough to hear us, how special are those moments of great need when I’m near enough to hear His whispers and to be strengthened by the love, hope, and peace that He readily shares.
- That catch was a miraculous blessing, but it was also a huge responsibility. That catch wasn’t just going to provide bragging rights from a casual fishing trip with friends. Those fish represented livelihood. The weight I feel is both responsibility and blessing. After all, we are “blessed to be a blessing.”
Hang in there during those times of stretching. Lean in on the One Whose strength is limitless. What a joy to find, as the disciplines did, that we are stretched “yet . . . not . . . broken”!
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