ABLE TO WITHSTAND
1 John 4:4
...because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
I've been blessed to be able to travel to Kodiak Island Alaska three different times. None of the trips was for pleasure, however, that doesn't mean that we didn't spend time having fun. We did get to do a little hunting and/or fishing each time we were there. Kodiak has an array of species we don't fine here in Michigan or on the great lakes. I was able to take some good blacktail deer and many species of fish. Probably one of the best trophies that I was blessed to harvest while there is a fish call a "yellow eye" rockfish..
Rockfish look like an oversized goldfish and can grow to over 100 years old. They are hatched and remain on the same rock structure their entire life. I caught one that was estimated to be 75 plus years old. The problem with yellow eye is that when you reel them up from the deep water the pressure at the surface is far less than it is down where they live. These fish often will have their eyes popped out of the sockets and the "air bladder" that is normally inside of them actually coming out of their mouths. The bad news is, once you've caught them, they rarely can be successfully returned to the water... they're going to die. There is good news, they are delicious.
Several years ago while taking notes in church of a sermon. This sermon included a statement that went something like this, "if a submarine, when submerging, doesn't have a greater pressure inside of it than the pressure from the outside, it will be crushed. And if it had too much pressure inside when coming back to the surface, it would explode ".
This is true of submarines and yellow eye rockfish and just as true for our lives. The pressures of this world are constantly pushing in on us. Whatever we face, when we have a relationship with God, we are filled with something that will never allow us to be crushed. Our God is more powerful than anything this world can throw at us. And His love is so great that He would NEVER want us to be destroyed by those worldly forces.
But, we live in a sinful world and we have choices. However, by choosing to allow God's amazing power and presence to guide, guard and protect us, we can stand up, no matter what comes at us.
Isaiah 43:1-3
..."Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
3 "For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
Our amazing God created ALL things and rest assured that He is more powerful than anything else that comes against Him. Call on His infinite power and know that with Him we can withstand the pressures of this world.
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