It came in Email this week, the brave soul-searching of a young woman, telling me about the lack of Christmas again this year and how God had blessed her season with kindness from near strangers. I wished that I had known in time to send her a gift over the holidays. And then she said how she has been thinking about “that unwanted precious little gift” of disappointment, and the way it has prepared her for life in unexpected ways. Her own broken-hearted experiences opened her eyes “to see people as broken, imperfect, and in need of a Savior and in that cherish the promises of God, because He will never fail or forsake.” And I realized that God had given her an even better gift: His strength, and the faith to see the work He was accomplishing.

Desperate is a good place to be if it drives you into the arms of God. Weakness is the perfect place to start if you are looking for strength, and God will use anything and everything in life to get you to that place of need so that you can find Him your all-sufficient source. A hard-won precious gift of truth for all those who are disappointed by this world and set their hearts on God. “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:3)

When I untangle my heart from the things of this world and seek more of God, there is a sturdy foundation there for a life to grow strong. And the hard thorny things that prick and grieve, these become gifts that grow strength, cultivate Christ-likeness inside.

It is looking up to Jesus when our hearts hurt that renews us; it is asking Him all the hard questions instead of rattling around the walls of our own very small conclusions that cuts our troubles down to size; it’s working out our faith into every experience of life that shines glory everywhere, this living out our relationship with Jesus that makes us strong, because it is His own strength at work in us.

May we receive all the unexpected and difficult as gifts from the hands of the Giver, and plant our roots down firmly into His strength.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall…” (Matthew 7:24-25)

“Set a fire down in my soul
That I can’t contain, that I can’t control.
I want more of You, God;
I want more of You…” (Jesus Culture)