Quatre: Three weeks and more than two thousand miles of grueling competition over rugged terrain against the world’s best cyclists four years in a row! Lance Armstrong completed his fourth straight Tour de France victory Sunday. As an Austinite who has followed Lance’s cycling career and his horrifying struggle with cancer for more than seven years, it was a sweet day.

    Lance was emerging as a world-class cyclist when he was struck down with cancer. Almost no one thought he would survive when he was near death. He was blessed to come through his cancer ordeal and live. To be able to compete at the world level as a cyclist is unbelievable. To be the best in the world after his battle with cancer is miraculous.

    Some have suggested he has raced drug-enhanced, like so many in cycling have done. Armstrong has strongly denied that rumor and passed more drug screening tests that any world athlete, never failing such a test. Lance has said that it would be foolhardy and ludicrous to risk his life when he fought so hard to save it, especially now that he is happily married and has children he wants to see grow up. He bristles at the accusations that his performance is based upon anything other than an absolute commitment to train hard, plan hard, race hard, and depend upon his team.

    Those of us who have watched him over the years, do believe that there was something about his war with cancer that furnished the crucible out of which his unique strength for the Tour de France has been fashioned. Maybe his cancer battle changed his physiology and made him leaner? Maybe this battle for his life, coupled with his desire to live when he was literally on the precipice of death, have made him mentally and emotionally stronger than others? Maybe his zest for life and knowing what is important about it have put his cycling into perspective, allowing him to compete with focus and vigor without succumbing to the pressure? Maybe it is all of those!

    One principle we shouldn’t discount, however, is that God often makes us strongest in the areas of our brokenness. Out of our brokenness, we cry out to God recognizing that we do not have the strength to do what is necessary. In our admitted weakness, he makes us strong.

In our admitted weakness, he makes us strong.

    “God’s strength is made perfect in weakness,” the apostle Paul said autobiographically. (2 Corinthians 12:9) “We are able to comfort others out of the comfort we have received in our trials,” he would remind the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 1:3-11) “In fact,” Paul seems to say, “our trials are something we can learn to rejoice in because they produce character in us.” (Romans 5:1-5) Jesus’ brother James also emphasizes this point when he says, “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. ... For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (James 1:2-4)

    Bottom line: God makes us strongest in our broken places if the goal of our life is godly character, and not simply personal comfort.

    I don’t know where you are in your life, your faith, or your health. Our Heartlight “family” is composed of folks from all over the world, from every kind of life experience. I do know that God is at work in each of us. (Philippians 3:12-13) He will not abandon or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5-6) Nothing can separate us from his love. (Romans 8:32-39) He will bring to completion what we have begun in Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

    The real issue for us is whether or not we see our Father’s character as our life’s goal. We are not immune to difficulty, trial, pain, disaster, and death in this fallen world. We are promised, however, that God will work through those difficulties for our good to produce in us the character of his Son. (Romans 8:28-30) So we must not lose heart. Instead, let’s trust that even the worst of our moments, God will bring healing and strength that we could never imagine was possible! And when God heals, he makes us strongest in our broken places.

 

Print this Article Send it to a Friend Heartlight encourages you to share this material with others in church bulletins, personal emails and other non-commercial uses. Please see our Usage Guidelines for more information.	Lifting the Veil of Invincibility Second Chance Got Him Rolling
	ALL of Heartlight        --- ARTICLES   A Taste of Home   Caring Touch   Diary of God   Hope from the Hill Country   Just for Men   Just for Women   Leading in Hope   Love, Sex & Marriage   Making Life Work   Prayer for the Nation   Single...Not Alone   Special Features   Timely Truths   Together in His Grace   Two Minute Meditations        --- DEVOTIONALS   Charles Spurgeon   Daily Wisdom   My Utmost for His Highest   Praying with Paul   Quotemeal   Today's Verse   What Jesus Did

Title: "Strongest in the Broken Places"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: July 29, 2002