I want you to think about a slingshot. 

Imagine yourself holding that slingshot, ready to shoot something powerful out into the world with incredible force. But here’s the secret: it must be stretched and tensed before what is in it can fly. The further you pull back without breaking it, the farther it will go.

This is exactly how God works in our lives. He pulls us back, stretching us and causing tension. It may not feel good, and we might question why things are happening this way. But God has a purpose. The challenges and hardships we face are meant to propel us forward.

We are meant to be stretched, challenged, and pulled back like a slingshot. It may feel like we’re not moving towards our goals, but it’s in the tension and the pulling back that we gain the momentum to soar forward.

You are a slingshot, just waiting for your future to be propelled into greatness. Embrace the stretching, embrace the tension. Trust that God uses these experiences to launch you into a future beyond your wildest dreams.

When you find yourself at rock bottom, feeling like there’s nothing left to hold onto, that’s precisely when God is at work behind the scenes. It may seem like everything is falling apart, even getting worse. But let me tell you, God has a plan for you at that very moment.

Hold tight, my friend, because this is where the magic happens. 

Sometimes, God allows challenges and circumstances for our benefit. Sometimes, the enemy is coming at us. And let’s remember that life has a way of testing our limits. But no matter what caused the tension or setbacks, whether it came from God or someone else, here’s the incredible truth: God will use what was meant to harm you for your good. Remember, Joseph experienced this when his brothers, who turned against him, came back and bowed before him. 

Genesis 50:19-21 (NIV)

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

So, when you feel like you’re going backward, remember this: God is using that tension to push you forward. In those moments of desperation and apparent nothingness, miracles are unfolding, just like when Jesus lay in the tomb. The disciples believed it was all over, a complete downfall. Yet, resurrection and a powerful movement emerged from that very place. Scripture is filled with stories of God turning moments of despair into triumph. Just read throughout your Bible, and you’ll find it over and over again.

Keep your trust, my friend. When you feel down to nothing, God is up to something.