We can learn many things from God’s creation. This is one of them. I just found out today that the stress applied to steel in the cold-formed process actually makes the steel stronger. Here is a quote from an article that I read: In most cases, metal is cast or forged into the desired shape after it is made malleable through the application of heat. Cold working refers to the process of strengthening metal by changing its shape without the use of heat. Subjecting the metal to this mechanical stress causes a permanent change to the metal’s crystalline structure, causing an increase in strength. (https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-cold-working-2340011)
Could it be that God uses stress in our lives to bring about good and actually strengthen us? The quote at the top is actually from a text I got yesterday from Bob Sander-Cederlof. The timing of this text coincided with my current reading of the story of Joseph. Here is a list of some of the stressors that God used in Joseph’s life:
– Hate from his brothers because of their father’s favoritism (Gen. 37:3-4)
– More hate from his brothers and even rebuke from his father for explaining his dreams to them (Gen. 37:5-10)
– Mistreatment from his brothers to the point of throwing him into a pit. (Gen. 37:23-24)
– More mistreatment from brothers through being sold as a slave to Midianite traders, who then sold him in Egypt to Potiphar (Gen. 37:28, 36)
– False accusation from Potiphar’s wife for doing the very evil that he had resisted and fled from (Gen. 39:11-18)
– False punishment in prison for a crime he did not commit (Gen. 39:19-20)
– No record of any gratefulness from the chief butler for Joseph’s kindness in interpreting his dream. God brought this wrong to the butler’s mind after two long years. (Gen. 40:9-15, 23; 41:9-13)
At the end of these stresses, Joseph acknowledged the good that God had done. Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Gen. 50:19-20)
Here is the full text that Bob sent:
Stress is inevitable, guaranteed.
Stress is actually GOOD!
Without stress, we eventually lose all strength.
God is GOOD!
He will manage “my” stress!No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Cor. 10:13)
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Cor. 12:9-10)
Thank you, Bob, for that text with the Scriptures, and thank you, Lord, for Your wisdom and sustaining power in working all things together for good to those who love You, to those who are the called according to Your purpose. (Rom. 8:28)