The Balancing Act Between Tough And Tender
By Pastor Jeff Arnold, Gainesville, FL

Our Lord Jesus spoke about the parable of the fig tree, showing that when the tree put forth its TENDER BRANCHES you can tell that summer was very near, using the illustration from nature to show how we could tell about HIS COMING. I am lifting the example from the setting to speak about TENDER BRANCHES.

Having a TENDERNESS in us is the first stage for the next level of GROWTH. Growth only occurs when the branches are YET TENDER, what a challenge to all of us. Maybe the progress and growth many of us are desiring has not come, due to the fact that TENDERNESS is not working in us, so that the next STAGE can happen. There is a time when the branches must be TOUCH AND HARD; that time is WINTER. The branches HARDEN to brace themselves against the HARD, COLD SEASON called WINTER. Hardships of winter include the terrible cold, fierce winds, and various animals foraging for food.

It is alright for us to have HARDENING, OR TOUGHNESS, which is needful in TIMES OF TRIAL, WINTER, AND COLD EXPERIENCES. Once the trial is over, we must allow God to SOFTEN us again, so that through being TENDER, we can experience a new level of growth and fruitfulness.

In the natural world, when winter is over, the branches do NOT REMAIN TOUGH, there comes to it THAWING AND TENDERNESS; the same thing must happen in us. We must PERMIT GOD to SOFTEN US, so GROWTH may happen, for NEW GROWTH ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE TENDER…. Remember, SUMMER prepares us for the next season, which is a TIME OF HARVEST; each stage is connected to the next. We must not become BITTER, HARD OR CRITICAL, but we must SEEK TO BE MADE TENDER after trials and tests. As soon as its branches become TENDER, it PUTS FORTH LEAVES. Ask God to help you to be balanced between TOUGH AND TENDER, for your next stage of GROWTH is determined by the condition of the previous one….