strain 09-17-2025

STRAIN: there are multiple uses for the word. Cooks will strain pasta of water and veggies of impurities, athletes will speak of a muscle strain, students or office workers will speak of the mental strain of an upcoming deadline or test and optometrists of the eye strain of too much screen time. In his letter to the Philippian church Paul uses the word for himself: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) In Paul’s use strain takes on even another use: a focused effort to reach a goal. And since his goal is to be resurrected in Christ Jesus that effort is a life-long pursuit. So along the way I find in my life impurities that are strained by God’s Word, a mind that strains to be Christ-like, a body restrained from old ways, and eyes that kept focused on Jesus see peace without strain. So no matter what strain mode you are in: keep straining! PK