Pressure refines not only diamonds but also lead. Explore James 1:2-4 and discover how faith in Christ fortifies the soul, forging endurance beyond our earthly limits.
“(2) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4 ESV Text
When we read the word strength, often the first thing that comes to mind is one’s ability to impose his/her will on another. And while this is true, be it an excavator removing boulders from a hillside, Superman lifting a boat out of the water, or Eddie Hall deadlifting over half a ton, strength can also be used to denote an object's ability to withstand pressures. It was this version of strength that was being tested when scientists at Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California discovered an incredibly reactive property in lead (Pb).1
Lead is a notoriously soft metal. It ranks at 1.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, can be dented with a fingernail, and is so easily deformed that it is used in applications such as firearm bullets, where rapid deformation is advantageous. In short, lead is far weaker than diamonds or the high-strength steel used in aerospace and military applications. At least, that was the common belief until LLNL released a study that claimed lead, when exposed to extreme pressures, reforms its crystalline structure to more closely resemble metals like tungsten, chromium, and tantalum. This change increased the pressure-strength of lead by more than 250 times its original, making it 10 times stronger than typical high-strength steel. One source noted that the sample’s internal pressure reached 400 gigapascals during testing.2 To better conceptualize this value, a single gigapascal is equivalent to the pressure exerted by water at more than six miles below the surface.
In this way, the additional pressure did not destroy the lead but strengthened it to epic proportions. Likewise, God seeks to strengthen us to such an extent that we can handle pressures often difficult to conceptualize. Through the trials in our lives, the failures, missteps, persecutions, and tragedies, God is rearranging our atomic structure. He is strengthening us, allowing the moments of discomfort to become a catalyst for something altogether more powerful. And it is through this rearrangement, which cannot be replicated by human hands – it is a naturally occurring phenomenon that scientists can only hope to provoke into action – that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
It is, however, worth noting that the lead, while strengthened, was measured by its rate of deformation. That is to say, the sample was not free of markings, just as we will never walk through life without gathering scars. God has not guaranteed a trouble-free life, nor has He promised to only allow as much as can be handled (1 Corinthians 10:13).3 Instead, He calls us into the deep water, knowing we are unable to swim but ready and willing to lift us from its depths. He wants us to persevere so that through those trials we are strengthened beyond their ability to affect us.
As you continue throughout your week, reflect on James’ divinely inspired wisdom. What trials are you facing? Have you neglected seeking Christ’s guidance? Are you avoiding your life's trials rather than facing them boldly? Have you allowed deformation without reformation? If so, there has never been a better time to call on God. Bolster your faith, lean on Him, and allow the fortification of your soul so that you, too, can let steadfastness have its full effect.
References:
Bishop, B. (2019). New research finds lead toughens up under extremes. https://www.llnl.gov/article/45811/new-research-finds-lead-toughens-under-extremes
Conover, E. (2019). Lead becomes stronger than steel under extreme pressures. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/lead-becomes-stronger-than-steel-under-extreme-pressures
The Holy Bible. (2001). Crossway. English Standard Version