Back in the day Tanya Tucker had a song called “Strong Enough To Bend”. There are many thoughts and analogies from the remnants of Hurricane Ike that visited Columbus, Ohio over the weekend. Now that I have power back in our home, I can finally get a few of them to the web. I thought of that song this morning as I looked out my window and drove through town to see the numerous trees that had split, broken, been uprooted and those that stood strong.
What intrigued me the most is that some of the strongest trees cracked and broke in the storm. Out my window I can see a very small tree which was just planted last summer which withstood the wind and storm. I am amazed at how trees with roots so deep can fall while trees that were strong enough to bend could withstand the storm and stand tall today.
I was reminded this morning that often our faith can be like these trees. I know there are times when I think “I know it all” and my roots are strong enough to handle any storm. Then the wind comes and I crack. The storm hits and my faith isn’t strong enough to bend. We see new believers in their faith take on the largest storms and wind and stand firm on simple child like faith. I wonder if I don’t over think God sometimes. I wonder if I don’t expect too much, want too much, demand so much that my faith becomes rigid in the storm.
Lord grant me the flexibilty to be strong enough to bend when the storms come. Grant me the wisdom to understand the winds will come and my strongest act of obedience is to be flexible as your plan unfolds.
AARON CONRAD 