Strength & Sistering
“Nothing makes us stronger than having climbed out of the deepest valleys of despair to the highest peaks of joy, and nothing pushes us from behind like angels reminding us not to forget the others who are scaling the mountain with us. Once having reached the peak, we find that we are no longer crying- and even more importantly, we find that we are no longer alone.” ~ Marianne Williamson
Isn’t that beautiful?!
Quotes like that bring to mind some our lives greatest pains and triumphs; and most importantly, the beautiful souls that have helped us along way.
Its THAT stuff that settles into your heart and matters.
"But what I know for sure is that there is no strength without challenge, adversity, resistance and often pain."
The problems that make you want to throw up your hands and yell, “Mercy! I give up!” will build your faith, courage, hope and dependence on God and your sisters.
Romans 5:3-4 says, “We celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer, we develop endurance which shapes and defines our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.” (emphasis mine... because I love it!!!)
As Glennon Doyle Melton says so beautifully in her video: "I don’t think the hard is a mistake. I don’t think the hard means that we’ve done anything wrong. I think the hard is purposeful." So that we’ll depend on God and each other.
"Life is just a dance between being sistered and sistering others."
And as I contemplated and traversed through the challenges of my life, I often think about the strength that I’ve been given from my friends, family and even the generations that have come before me- my grandmothers, my mom & dad, my sister, my friend Ali that’s battling Stage 4 breast cancer-
All of the people in my life that have been tested with unimaginable hardships and still survived.
Think back for a moment on your own history- your own story. Not just where you came from, or where you were born, or where you grew up, but the circumstances that contributed to your being right here, right now.
What were the moments that wounded or scarred you? Chances are, you’ve had a few.
But here’s what’s remarkable: You are still here, standing, and chances are, God revealed Himself to you during that time. Maybe He even carried you? Maybe He put people to your left and to your right to strengthen you, and hold you together?
THANK HIM!
Scars are proof of healing.
God takes the deep, painful wounds of our lives and He heals them with His gentle, thorough touch. What's left is a scar; and out of that scar no longer flows poison, bitterness and pain. But instead, flows rivers of living water that refresh, encourage and restore others.
The hard stuff is purposeful.
There is no strength without challenge- and like 2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “when we are weak…. then we are strong.”
Press in and cling to God; find your sister joist; be a sister joist- It’s one of the best parts of life.
Reflection Questions:
- Who are some of the people in your life that have displayed great strength and dependance on God?
- Who has been your sister joist- and when have you been a sister joist for someone else?
- What are some of the scars that God has used in your life to glorify His name?
- Do you have wounds that need to be healed and scarred over?