With some pine trees intense heat or even fire is necessary for reproduction. The seed in locked in the cone until intense heat expels it. Devastation of a woodland by fire has a huge negative impact, but out of the ashes new life can be produced. Awful circumstances in life can be what propels you to live again – and success can be birthed from failure. Some people call it failing forward. If your past has negative circumstance in it, or if your present does, it doesn’t mean you can’t survive and then thrive tomorrow.
I am always so inspired by those who have walked through great difficulty and come out better on the other side. The enemy attacked them, and they stood strong, and their test, produced a testimony! Their tragedy was turned to triumph. They didn’t become victims, they were victorious, and became fruitful even through a drought! What the enemy meant for evil, God turned around for good! When we believe God’s Word, even in the worst of circumstances, He is on our side and is making a way in the wilderness. His living water sustains us in the desert. His living bread is sustenance to our soul. He nourishes us in the presence of our enemies, and even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we don’t live in fear, for God sustains us. When we get the good stuff (the Word) on the inside, we will come out stronger and more fruitful on the other side. That’s encouraging!
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