“I
can do all things through him [Christ] who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
I
love to take pictures of flowers. Fields of wildflowers, gardens of
carefully cultivated flowers, big and bold flowers, simple and plain
flowers – wherever I find them, I love to take pictures of flowers.
Most
of the time I find flowers where one would expect them to be: in the
garden, or in a pot, or in a field, or in the forest. But every once
in a while I come across flowers in the most peculiar places. I’ve
found flowers growing in the cracks in sidewalks; I’ve found
flowers growing in the rain gutters along our roof; I’ve found
flowers growing where there is very little oxygen, high up in the
alpine tundra.
When
Carol and I traveled to Scotland, I saw flowers growing in the rock
walls on the side of the roads. People had not planted the flowers;
the seeds had just blown (or maybe they were “deposited” by the
birds) into the cracks and crevasses of the centuries-old walls.
Somehow, though, the flowers grew – flourished, even.
Similarly,
when we were hiking in Colorado, I looked off to my left and noticed
a bed of flowers growing right on top of a boulder. There were only a few inches of forest compost to serve as soil, but it was enough for
the flowers to grow – to flourish, even.
I
mention these peculiar places where I have discovered flowers because
I know that many times we might find ourselves in less-than-ideal
situations or circumstances in our lives. Circumstances that wouldn’t
ordinarily be suitable for flourishing. Situations you don’t
normally think of when you hear the term, “abundant life.”
And
yet.
And
yet, abundant life is precisely what we discover with Jesus. Jesus
said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it
abundantly.” (John 10:10. I’ll let you in on a secret: the “they”
in that verse refers to you and me!)
I
don’t want to pretend to promise that everything is rosy (excuse
the pun) with Jesus. We still will experience some of those
challenging times in our lives. We will experience difficulties and
trials. But when we experience the trials and difficulties with the
assurance of Christ’s love and kindness and presence, then I am
convinced that the quality of life is different for us. Even in the
midst of struggles and challenges, we can thrive, not simply survive.
I
have seen different people confronted by the same traumatic
experience; and at times I have seen totally different outcomes. Some
may come out on the other side embittered by their struggles, ready
to give up. Others may come out filled with hope and peace, and even
made stronger as a result. Those who come out stronger and more
hope-filled invariably owe their strength and hope and peace to their
relationship with the Lord. As they have struggled and grieved and
cried out, they have found One who comes to them and nourishes them
with his love, his grace, his peace.
I
am aware that what I am claiming here may be an over-simplification.
That is one of the downfalls of trying to address profound truths in
brief blog entries. I am fully aware that the struggles many people
face are more dire than I will ever know. And I am aware that
conditions like depression or anxiety can’t simply be alleviated by
saying, “You just need Jesus, and it will all be better.”
I
know that it’s not that simple.
But
I also know that, no matter the situation in which we find ourselves,
we can experience abundant life. Because, Jesus. Because Jesus offers
us strength, and courage. Because Jesus introduces hope, and gives us
his peace. Because Jesus shines light into our darkness, to dispel
and overcome the darkness.
The
apostle Paul wasn’t speaking empty, pithy words when he said, “I
can do all things through him who strengthens me.” In fact, he was
writing those words from a prison cell into which he had been
unjustly sent. He had seen success in his ministry, but he had also
experienced rejection and persecution, even bodily harm. But the
trials and the difficulties he faced were different when he viewed
them from the perspective of Christ’s presence and grace.
He
knew that abundance wasn’t so much a matter of circumstance, as it
was a matter of Who was with him in the midst of the circumstances.
That’s why he said, “I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether
living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through [Christ] who
strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13)
If
flowers can grow – flourish, even – between a rock and a hard
place, don’t you think it’s possible for you and me to do the
same?
