Are you being stretched?
1 Peter 5:10 – After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The rubber band, one of our most ubiquitous fasteners, was patented in England in 1845 for the purpose of holding papers or envelopes together. Bands made of pure gum rubber have a useful life span of three to five years; those of silicone fare better at 20 years. But anyone who has tried to use an old one, knows they become brittle, degrading as it ages. Heat and strain can shorten the rubber band’s service life. Even its shelf life breaks down across time. There is no stretch left in it and it is discarded.
In God’s economy for His people, unlike being worn down by being stretched, God keeps you useful. Today’s verse reminds you that, even though you may have been stretched for a while, He Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. You have a job to do and He won’t let you fall into the bin of discards! Let Him stretch you today—stretch your faith, stretch your thinking, stretch beyond worry and fear to His plans for your welfare. If you are being stretched by this election and its upcoming results, count your stretching as a blessing. Don’t be afraid of a little stretching when it is being done by His hands!
Pray With Us
Holy God, You are the One in my life who never fails. Thank You for the ways in which you stretch my faith and my thinking. Thank You in advance for the ways You move in my life stretching me according to Your will. I trust You and Your plans for me and for America. You are a good, good Father, and I love you.
Amen.
