Spiritual structural integrity
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering in which structural engineers are trained to design the innards of man-made structures. Using the human body as an analogy, they design the bones and muscles that support the body. Watching any football game, the ball runner gets hit and continues running because his bones give him structure, and his muscles provide stability. These design principles also apply to the structural engineer because buildings must withstand hits by high winds and earthquakes while remaining standing.
Other aspects of their responsibilities include working with other disciplines, such as architects who are primarily responsible for the aesthetic design of buildings or, continuing with our analogy, the skin of the body. It is also common for structural engineers to be onsite construction supervisors as they have in-depth knowledge of the structure of the building. Lastly, they will be given budget restrictions, so they must be creative in using materials and design choices to stay on target while providing a safe structure.
Structural engineering dates back to 2700 B.C.E when the Egyptian pyramids were built for Pharoah Djoser by Imhotep, the first engineer mentioned by name. Looking through early civilizations, we find that structures were built using some form of a triangle because that shape is solid. Structures were repetitive because builders tended to stick with what worked. But over time, this did not prevent structural failures from happening.
Some failures were caused by blatant negligence, whereas others require a more detailed forensic observation to uncover the cause. In many of these cases, the original engineer appears to have done everything correctly, having followed the state of their profession at that time, and yet a failure occurred. Despite their best efforts and accessing years of accumulated human knowledge, more was needed to keep the structure standing.
In some ways, to make another comparison, we are the engineers of our lives today. We use our faith in Jesus as the bones; his promises may be the muscle. Yet, despite our best efforts, we may sometimes find ourselves on the verge of structural failure. Anxiety seems to be a growing issue, and it can make us feel out of control even though we think we have put our best efforts into trusting God for our deliverance.
Be encouraged today that God can fully strengthen you and prevent you from collapsing. The key is complete surrender, even amid an apparent total failure. Allow God to give you peace as you trust that he is the engineer and architect of your life and can strengthen your spiritual structural integrity during the strongest storms.
