Seeking Stability
Salt comes in various forms, from fine grains like table salt, to larger, more delicate flakes. Whether sourced from seawater or mined from ancient salt deposits, this essential seasoning has been used for centuries in cooking and food preparation. One of salt’s most remarkable properties is that it never truly goes bad. As a mineral, salt is inherently stable and doesn’t support microbial growth. While certain types of salt may lose potency, clump up, or change in texture, the core structure of the salt will remain intact.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet” (Matthew 5:13, ESV).
Jesus has called us to be the "salt of the earth." And just as there are many kinds of salt, there are many kinds of people. We will all reflect our saltiness in different ways, through different personality types, different spiritual giftedness, etc. In that way, we are much like salt.
Yet, unlike salt, we are not "inherently stable." We struggle, we backslide, we grow complacent, we sin. We experience some measure of "microbial growth" and lose our potency.
Don't be an "impotent" or "clumply" Christian!
Only through abiding in Christ, perservering in faith, remaining steadfast in our walk can we deliver the true saltiness which bears witness of the full flavor and preserving value of the Gospel message.
"And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 4:1, ESV).
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV).
Random Pieces of Life's Puzzle
A friend of mine once gave me a thousand-piece puzzle. It was a beautiful picture on the box, an ocean sunset with waves crashing against the rocks. Excited, I poured the pieces onto the table and started working.
At first, it was fun. Fitting the edges and finding the bright colors of the sky. But as the hours passed, frustration crept in. Some pieces didn’t seem to fit anywhere. Others looked like they belonged but were just a little off. After a while, I was tempted to give up. It felt like a mess, and I couldn’t see how it would ever come together.
Days later, I returned to the puzzle, unwilling to just walk away without seeing the beauty of the end product.
Slowly, piece by piece, it started to take shape. What once felt like random, useless pieces were actually critical parts of the most beautiful sections.
Life can feel like that unfinished puzzle. There are pieces of pain, confusion, and unanswered questions that don’t seem to fit. But God sees the whole picture when we only see fragments. Even when we don’t understand, we can trust that He is working everything together for our good. The pieces that feel out of place today might be part of a greater masterpiece He is creating in your life.
While it might be tempting to throw your hands up and just walk away, stick with the process. At the other end of patience, perservernace, and endurance comes beauty and joy.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance [endurance]. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4, ESV).
Surfing Past Setbacks
Bethany Hamilton was a rising star in the world of surfing. Born and raised in Hawaii, she showed exceptional talent from a young age, winning her first surf competition at just eight years old. Her dream was to become a professional surfer, but a life-changing event tested her determination.
At the age of 13, while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark. She lost her entire left arm in the attack, a devastating blow to anyone, let alone someone whose life revolved around surfing. Doctors told her that her surfing career was likely over. Most people would have given up on their dream in the face of such adversity.
But not Bethany.
Just one month after the attack, she was back in the water, determined to relearn how to surf with one arm. She faced immense physical and emotional challenges, including balancing on the board, paddling with one arm, and overcoming the fear of another shark attack. Despite these obstacles, she refused to give up. Through relentless practice and innovation, she adapted her surfing style and worked tirelessly to improve.
In less than two years, Bethany achieved what many thought was impossible. She won her first national surfing title, proving that persistence, grit, and determination could overcome even the most daunting setbacks. Today, she is not only a professional surfer but also an inspirational speaker, author, and advocate, inspiring millions with her story of resilience.
Persistence isn’t just about achieving goals, it’s about refusing to let setbacks define you. Bethany’s determination to overcome her physical limitations and fulfill her dream of surfing shows that persistence can turn even the most challenging situations into opportunities for growth and triumph.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5, ESV).
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4, ESV).