Building Strength By Sheree T. Booker

Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The Bible says God works all things together for our good; however it does not mean that everything will feel nor will be good.  Because he is working it together for our good, it means that there is something bad present for Him to work on. He will work the living and the dead together for our good. There will be good and evil. There will be ups and downs. Things will go and come, but through it all, God will remain and work it all together. God knows when to give and when to take. He knows when to fulfill the order in our lives at the perfect and right time. Often it’s during our hardest times, our greatest struggle, that we gain the most strength.

In the story of Jacob and Rachel, Rachel, unlike her sister Leah, was challenged when it came to having children. Unlike Leah, it was hard for Rachel to bare a son. She finally gives birth to a son and his name was Joseph.  Rachel wanted another son, so Jacob made a sacrifice and Rachel became pregnant.  During the process of giving birth, Rachel began to have great difficulty. When she became pregnant, many probably were celebrating the fact that she was pregnant again. She was finally getting what she prayed for. However, Rachel dies as her son is born. As her son cries the first time, she cries her final tear.

Sometimes when God answers our prayers, He gives it to us at a price we could have never imagined. Rachel asked God for another son, but had no idea that it would cost her, her life. We have to be mindful that when we ask God for things, that we will lose something in return. For example, if we ask God to use us, it may require us be broken and poured out in ways you cannot imagine. Exhaustion may come in, many will feel neglected, but God will always remain. He will answer the prayer.

In our lives something is always dying while something else is coming alive.We can have joy in our lives but also have sadness. Great strength is born from great sorrow. Often, the strongest people often have the greatest sorrow. The greatest trials a person will endure will fortify their greatest life. Jesus, who has all power and authority, suffered on the cross, and could have easily removed himself, but instead hung there for our sins. Jesus was considered a man of sorrow, but the sorrow of His death produced the power of His resurrection.

Your sorrow today will be your strength for tomorrow!