Bend or Break?

How flexible are you?

To be “flexible” is to be capable of stretching, bending and changing without breaking. According to the dictionary, it is “the ability to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions; ready and able to change; willing or disposed to yield.”

The opposite of being flexible is to be rigid, brittle, unyielding, unbending and stiff. An inflexible person lacks pliability and elasticity.

Flexibility is a wonderful personal quality. Flexible people are able to adjust to changes and adapt to transitions. They do not entrench themselves in restrictive, reactive attitudes and opinions. They are quick to embrace important and necessary adjustments. They don’t feel the need to fight, resist, contend or rebel. They respond to change positively and enthusiastically.

Flexible people are a joy to work with and a blessing to be around. They are more productive, happier, and more helpful than rigid people. They are team players. They have a genuine “whatever it takes” attitude.

Under pressure, rigid people break rather than bend. When a test comes or changes are required, inflexible people become self-focused, comfort-motivated and fear-controlled. The result is resistance rather than responsiveness.

"One of the keys to being effectively used by God over the long-haul is flexibility. Entrenched attitudes, rigidity of spirit and resistance to God-ordained change has shrunk the effectiveness, soured the souls and permanently sidelined many potentially great people.

We all have the tendency to become rigid. Our natural orientation is to hold on to the comfortable rather than embrace growth and change. We must work consciously and diligently to avoid this common trap.

The Lord promises to help us with this, if we will ask Him. Take a look at His wonderful words to us about a tender, pliable, flexible heart:

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” — Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)

What a promise!

Are you struggling with rigidity of spirit? Has inflexibility infected you? Don’t let this hinder or destroy your usefulness to God. Ask the Lord to give you a pliable, tender, bendable heart. Seek Him for a yielded will. It’s yours for the asking. Bend, don’t break!

Dale O'Shields

For more information, visit the Church of the Redeemer's website.
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