When we have unexpected guests arrive but not much food, we often say that we are going to have to stretch the food we have. If we do not have a lot of money to buy things we say, “we are going to have to stretch the money this week.” What does “being stretched” mean? It can mean making something last longer, going out of our comfort zone to accomplish something. We buy ‘stretchy socks so they can fulfill the purpose they are made for.
Why do many of us stretch our bodies when we wake up? To release the muscles so they work better. Why do sports people do stretches before a game or an event? So that the muscles perform better while they are training or competing.
Do you know that God stretches us? He puts us in situations to make us do things that we did not think possible. Just as we stretch our bodies to make us move better or stretch our budgets so we can have the essentials we need, there are times when we must stretch ourselves to be better people.
When we are doing exercises and stretching parts of our body that haven’t been used for a while, is it comfortable? I can tell you from experience that it is not. Is it painful? Well from all the experts, they say that if it is comfortable and not painful you are not doing it properly. Someone I know whose children were very good athletes told them that after running if they were not vomiting at the end, they had not done their best.
God wants you to be better. He does not want us to be fearful or timid. He does not want us to run away from tasks and by being stretched it will help us to grow into areas where we once were timid and help us to understand that when you said, “I can’t” now you can say, “I can.”
After stretching your muscles how do you feel? You may feel tired, but in almost all cases you feel great. That is how it is when God stretches us.
I want to encourage you that if things are tough, if you cannot see a way out you are being stretched by God. I am experiencing that right now, but I can guarantee that once you get through you will feel great and know that when the next challenge comes you will make it. I used to hate my old rugby coaches who got us to run laps around the field in the hot weather and the cold and rain. He would say, “do four laps” and by the third lap you could hardly run. If you faltered, you would be told you would not play the next game unless you completed the task. Was the coach unkind? To onlookers they may have thought so, but he knew that if our bodies were not primed and fit, we would not succeed.
In the past month I have had two experiences where God has stretched me.
Several weeks ago, some Christians who I know personally decided to invite a well known Pastor who had a gift of healing to our city. I had never been to a “healing” meeting before and had reservations about it. I was not anti but uneasy and did not want to go to the services. This feeling lasted for about a month. I watched some videos of this Pastor in action and although I would not necessarily do it the way he did, it was not bad enough to think he was not real. Some days I felt to go just support my friends organizing it, then the next day felt opposed to going. On the day of the meeting, I felt a strong urge to attend. I decided that perhaps it was God telling me to go for a reason. I went. As I entered the auditorium, I decided to sit at the very back so I could make a quick exit if I felt uncomfortable. While sitting there a young man entered and looked really scared. He had tattoos on his face and was shaking. I felt to approach him and told him he could sit at the back with me. I began talking to him about sports and his life and he slowly relaxed. Half way though the meeting he said he wanted to go outside but could not remember the exit. I told him I would accompany him. We both went outside and began talking. He really opened up about his life and told me if I had not invited him to sit with me, he would have left. We talked about 30 min and he continued to say how much he appreciated me being there. We went back inside and he started asking me questions about what he was seeing and I was able to answer. Last Sunday I went to church and saw him there. After the preaching I went up to him and he remembered me and gave me a big hug and said he had been thinking about our conversation all week. God stretched me. I did not want to go to the healing service but felt I should. Back in the day I would not have gone and ignored the urge. God wanted me to go just for this man.
The second stretching.
I do not like to go up to a person and ask if they want me to pray for them. Some people can and I admire that, but I feel uncomfortable. Once when I was in Australia a workmate was unwell and God asked me to go pray for her. I refused and did not do it. Afterward I felt gutted that I had let God down. Several months ago, on a Sunday, it was a beautiful morning so I decided that instead of going to church I would go to a local park with my head phones and have time with God. While I was walking and listening God laid on my heart a person I knew very well, who had been sick and still was. God said “Go pray for her.” I freaked out and got scared. I thought “I cannot do this.” I remembered the time in Australia when I had let God down by not praying for the work mate. I also remembered all the blessings God has given me and especially over the past two years since I left the cult. I did not want to pray for this person but I did not want to let God down just in case he stopped blessing me. In fear and trembling I decided to go visit this person but did not have a clue how it was all going to work out. When I arrived this person’s husband and brother in law were outside with her talking. I thought “I cannot pray for her in front of them.” Finally they went inside and I had my chance. I asked if I could pray for her and she said “yes”. I did it. I realized that God was stretching me. Was it painful? Yes. Was I scared? Yes but God was taking me into a realm where I had failed once before and given me another chance.
I was stretched when I was threatened by the cult to leave Australia and had no idea how it was going to work out. Having to rely on God for everything when I was usually independent stretched me.
What has this stretching done? It has made me stronger, it has given me more courage, it has made me braver. Is there more stretching to be done? Yes. Will it make me freak out? Perhaps, but it is for my own good.
Do not be afraid when God stretches you. God knows how much we can take. When you feel you are at the end of the road and cannot take anymore like I have over recent times let me tell you from experience it is doing you good. Sometimes I say “God I have been stretched enough” then something else comes along.
A sports person has two options when training. Stretch the muscles and feel the benefit when the tough times come or ignore and risk the possibility of doing damage.
In my present journey being stretched is important for me and makes it easier as time goes on. If I fail God understands and gives me chance after chance to reach the point where I should be.
Hang in there. You will make it. Look on the stretching as a challenge and you will not only please God but grow in your spiritual walk.