Hot stove, cold stove

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid.

She will never sit on a hot stove lid again and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.
~ Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Do you ever squeeze a lesson too hard?
Overcorrect a failure by refusing more attempts?

We’ve all done it and seen it done.

• Leaders who squelch all new ideas after a negative reaction from one
• Spouses burned once who never risk trusting again
• And ____ [fill in the blank with your own experience]

I once threw up after eating a Chef Boyardee pizza.

The lesson I learned? Never eat another Chef Boyardee pizza!

But I went too far; it was the wrong lesson to learn. It took years before I got brave enough to try another pizza like it. But I’m glad I finally did.

We all experience failures, we all have fears, we all want to succeed despite them, but it can only happen if we keep going back to the stove.

For God to prove strong through our weaknesses, we have to move forward through our weaknesses, not shrink back because of them.

What’s in it for us?

More challenges to be sure—we WILL get burned again.
But also more opportunities for building faith.

And ultimately a more fulfilling life—the abundant kind Jesus came to give, the kind that shows off how great the Father is.

So grab your potholders and keep cooking.

* * *

What fear do you want to work through this week?