Sermon Illustrations

POTENTIAL THROUGH PAIN

Theologian William Barclay comments and illustrates with a story: "Suffering, if accepted in humility and trust and love, can repair the weaknesses of a {person's} character and add the greatness which so far is not there. It is said that Sir Edward Elgar once listened to a young girl singing a solo from one of his own works. She had a voice of exceptional purity and clarity and range, and an almost perfect technique. When she had finished, Sir Edward said softly, 'She will be really great when something happens to break her heart."'

We only reach our highest potential through pain.

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