Fruits That Grow in Vulnerability
There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability.
A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame.
Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another’s wounds.
Let’s remind one another that what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen,
Bread for the Journey
Nouwen’s devotional thought today reminds me of a Shakespeare quote: “Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.” This, of course, echoes the wisdom of James chapter 1, where James set the trials and adversity of this life in proper perspective when he urged, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3). This passage calls on us to consider adversity and trial from the vantage point of confidence in God’s sovereignty. He’s accomplishing something in us. When suffering, “Do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:14-15). Fix your eyes on Jesus. We may not completely understand what we’re going through, but with roots of faith sunk deeply in our God, life’s strongest gales won’t topple us. Rather, they’ll further contribute to our stability and vigor. Oh joy! —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics