One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo has a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
출처: 모름...(이메일로 받았는데, 출처가 없네요)
이원희
- 2010.05.25
- 01:05:50
심한 불안과 고통이 지속되었던 지난 삶이 생각나네요.
그 때 하나님을 전적으로 의지하는 법을 배웠고
예수님의 보혈로 값없이 구원받은 기쁨과 소망을 가지게 되었으니까
저에게는 고난이 너무 값진 유익이라고 고백할 수 밖에 없습니다.
물론 그 당시엔 힘들고 괴로웠지만요.
No pain, no gain. 이란 말이 있듯이
귀한 걸 얻기 위해서는 꼭 어려움이 따르는 것이
이 세상 법칙인 것 같습니다.
특히 하나님 안에서는,
고난이란 영적 축복으로 가는 지름길이라고 생각합니다.
"그러므로 내 사랑하는 형제들아 견실하며 흔들리지 말고 항상 주의 일에 더욱 힘쓰는 자들이 되라. 이는 너희 수고가 주 안에서 헛되지 않은 줄 앎이라." (고린도전서 15장 58절) "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:58)
우리가 아무리 연약해도 하나님께서는 우리를 포기하시지 않듯이 우리도 우리 자신에 대해서 또는 다른 사람에 대해서 포기하지 않는 것이 중요하겠군요.