The fruit of the vine!  Interesting that grapes should be identified as such.  Even more interesting is how they are grown.  Yes, we all know that they are grown on vines, but do you know “how” the sweetest and most desirable grapes are grown?

We have all seen those pictures of miles and miles of vineyards, beautiful vines covered with large, luscious grapes.  The kind that you can almost see the juice beginning to drip; the kind that makes your mouth begin to water…

However, those are not the best of the crop.  Yes, they are wonderful, but not the best.

The best, the sweetest grapes are those that are grown closer to the ground on the smallest of vines.  It seems that those grapes are under greater stress, therefore, they are sweeter to the taste….hmmmm…….

Do you see where I am going with this now?  As Christians  we often find ourselves complaining about the stressfulness of our walk with our Lord.  We may even continually ask God, “why”. 

Well my friend, the “why” lies within the vineyard.  Just as the sweetest, tastiest 

and most sought after grapes are accomplished by much stress, so is our growth in 

Christ.  The more stress we face; the more stress we endure; the more stress that 

we seek God’s strength through, causes us to become so much more “sweeter” and 

“more desirable”.  For you see, it is in His strength that we become strong.

2 Corinthians  12:10.....Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in

necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak,

then am I strong.

How are you dealing with the stress in your life today?  Do you struggle against it or do you welcome it, knowing that the end result will be a stronger “you”?

Why not ask God now, to help you as you grow through the stress in your life.  As you seek your place, “within the vineyard”, seek His face as well.

© LBG Ministries  2000