Bending And Breaking

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

Several years ago, scientists developed a project called Biosphere 2. To sum it up, Biosphere 2 was an enclosed three-acre lot where scientists could test and experiment with plants and trees without harming the environment, in hopes of gaining new knowledge about how we can cultivate the earth.

During their work on Biosphere 2, scientists began to notice that trees were growing much faster inside the “bubble” than they did in the wild. But then before the trees could fully mature, they would collapse. For a while, no one could figure out why this was happening to the trees.

It was only after further studying and observation that the scientists realized the lack of wind in Biosphere 2 was affecting the trees’ ability to grow stronger and remain standing.

You see, when wind blows through the trees all over the world, trees develop what’s called “reaction wood” or “stress wood.” It’s a layer of wood in the trunk that not only helps the tree withstand wear and tear throughout its lifetime, but it also helps to position the tree where it receives the most benefit from its source of life (the light from the sun).

When I first heard about this study of the trees in Biosphere 2, I couldn’t help but smile at the metaphor it creates in relation to our lives as followers of Jesus. If we go through life without any sort of pushback, any sort of tension, storms, or struggles, our faith will not grow stronger. Rather, it will collapse under the pressure down the road because it hasn’t been conditioned to handle the hard parts of life.

The difficult moments we face, the heartbreaking circumstances that come our way, those are the things that the Lord uses to mature us, to grow us, and to develop us so that we can learn to remain standing through it all.

And not only does He use our trials to make us stronger, but He uses them as a tool to draw us closer to Himself. Just like the stress wood positions the tree towards the sun, our hardships have a way of pointing us to Christ and revealing our need for Him to sustain us.

So whatever you’re walking through today, whatever pain, hurt, or struggle you’re dealing with, may you be reminded that your faith is being developed. Your hope is being strengthened. Your trust is being matured. And you are being directed towards your Heavenly Father, the One who holds you up with His right hand, and the only one can keep you standing strong through all the storms of life.