VALUABLE, NOT FRAGILE // MAY 26, 2023
"... he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe."
Acts 14:20
Paul went back into the city where he was stoned and left for dead?? We have to know when to stay and when to leave. What's most notable about the stoning is not what happened to Paul but what happened in him. In Galatians 6:17 (NLT), he said, "From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body, the scars that show I belong to Jesus." Could it be that the stoning brought Paul strength?
Culture wants us to think we're fragile, and fragile things break. We're not fragile, but we are valuable. We may bend, but we won't break. We can strengthen, not snap. Even if "they" are trying to take us out, God can use that opposition to move us forward.
God will always remind you not worry when life gets tough. You won't just survive the attack, you'll grow stronger because of it. You can rely on him for your needs, and your immediate rescue. It may not look like what you expect, but you can trust he cares and is always working for your good. Keep your faith focus, a humble heart and a strong spirit because you're more than resilient!