“God, make me a man with thick skin and a tender heart. Make me a tough and tender man. Make me strong so that I can handle life. Make me tender so that I can love people. God, make me a man.”
~Darrin Patrickchurch planter (2010)
On the day of my induction into pastoral ministry at Lakeside Baptist Church in Perth, Western Australia, the very day I write this, I was given this quote, above, which resonates with the hum of ancient truth through the Spirit in me. It was given to me by a younger man, a high performance athlete, a man after God’s own heart for being a true man; a man whom I have the utmost respect for the ardor with which he adheres to the truth in his life. So when he gave me a special handwritten note, with the quote inscribed on it, it was the most precious object and interaction I took of the day.
The note was both an encouragement and a challenge.
I couldn’t help but explore this wisdom of God through your faithful servant. The note was signed, “Much love and HAZAK.” An encouragement and a challenge.
BE STRONG (HEBREW: HAZAK)
The core of the message, the precious mineral claimed in the words, presented as a reservoir of masculine beauty, is to be strong. But to be strong is to be cunning in what it really means.
Having thick skin and a tender heart is no easy task; perhaps there is nothing more difficult. But this is the inevitable task of the man of God: the man who makes Christ resound from within and impregnates him outward.
The prayer they gave me reflects the prayer that I am sure God wants all men to pray. Since it is a prayer of the Spirit of God Himself, for me, through this faithful brother in Christ, it will be my prayer now as well.
Being strong does not have much to do with physical strength, although at the same time it has to do with the application of courage that underpins physical strength in the heat of battle. It seems to me that the force that we apply in a physical battle is the same force that we apply in a spiritual battle. It comes from within; of the Holy Spirit within, linked to our obedience to the Spirit.
Such strength to “be strong” manifests itself in the perfect balance of having a thick skin but a tender heart; One thing I will now strive for. Thick skin is for life’s challenges and pressures, some of which are relational. A soft heart is all relational; the ability to allow others to succeed, even if it is at personal cost.
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God, make me a man; honest with myself, honest with others as much as you allow, and above all honest with yourself. My honesty will join with your blessing to make me thick-skinned but soft-hearted. Then I will be a man. AMEN.
© 2013 SJ Wickham.
Dedicated to Ben Beran.