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Monday Musings~Bring on the Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Isn't it ironic that whenever you are going through something you are "spoken to" somehow. Whether a believer or not, something in your life hits you at the core making you think, "How did they know that was exactly what I needed?" I had this experience yesterday.

Life has been pretty hunky-dory for me for about two months or so. Everything seems to be going along swimmingly with no "serious" issues and I have finally experienced some joy. Of course this doesn't last too long. I don't want to get comfortable where I am at or anything, geesh! But our culture wants me to believe and think that life should be "comfortable" all the time. Anyway, I have been hit with some pretty serious and heavy stuff to deal with since the new year. Nothing in my immediate surroundings, but something that hits me at the core. Although I am at great peace with the circumstances, by God's grace, I am still hit hard and have to deal with some very difficult "issues."

When this came around I thought, "oh great, here we go again. Can't I catch a break for just a minute longer???" However, yesterday at church I realized that maybe I want to be EXACTLY where I am at right now. Obviously this is where God wants me to be or He'd force me to move somehow. I was reminded yesterday that He is strong in my weakness. Trials are going to come. It is inevitable. How I react to and handle those trials is what is at stake. I learned that having the "proper perspective" when trials hit is the key to living.

The challenges that are before me have nothing to do with a poor choice that I made or God's discipline. No. These challenges are totally out of my control. I can get angry, lash out, curse God, throw myself a pity party, let it consume me but what good would that do? I would be miserable, in a very bad place, no fun to be around, make myself sick, you get the point. Instead, I have chosen to have a different perspective. My eyes are focused on the Lord. What does He want to teach me through this? How does He want to use me? How might this situation bring others to the Lord who may never have known Him before? How might I grow closer to Him through this? How might I be an example to my son, my husband, friends, family? How can He strengthen me through this?

I can look back at last year and see how God was strong when I was weak; at my weakest point in my whole life really. I can see how His glory shined and He changed me in magnificent ways. Even though I faced some seriously difficult challenges last year, I can see how my story touched others for the cause of Christ and how my life will THANKFULLY never be the same. Although I cannot see the end of this story, I know that He will not leave me hanging. He is strong when I am weak. I know I am going to cry, make mistakes, get tired, and feel overwhelmed as this challenge pans out. However, I will never lose sight of my God; my Strength. If I allow Him to, God will work MIGHTILY through this! And I will remember that His grace is my air!

"God's more worried about your character than your comfort."

If you want to be comforted through your trials and reminded that you maybe don't have it so bad after all, read Paul's story in 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10

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