Welcome to my random thoughts for the day.
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​If you have grown up around the Bible and I were to ask you what is the shortest verse in the Bible, my guess is you might say...... "Jesus Wept."

Can I get picky and say Yes, that is the shortest sentence in the Bible, but not the only shortest verse. There is another short, powerful and beautiful verse that we love to say as part of a greater sentence. 1 Thessalonians: 16 "Rejoice always,"

Two powerful words that can help us to endure some of the darkest times. If the joy of the Lord really is our strength at all times, we have the power in the darkness to rejoice in who God is, despite our circumstances. Easy to say, at times, difficult to do; nevertheless, it is still fully true. 

Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." For us to rejoice at all times is important to the Lord.

How do we do that when we are in most difficult seasons of life. How to we rejoice when we are overwhelmed with pain, sickness, loss, loneliness and betrayal? How, Lord? 

Do you hear Him? Through His Word He speaks, He connects and directs our rejoicing to be set in who He is and His faithfulness. Who God is doesn't change while we are in trials. "REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS; AGAIN I WILL SAY, REJOICE"

While there isn't a theological reason that verse 16 is separated from verse 17 & 18 in 1st Thessalonians, except to organize thoughts and ideas as a part of the bigger picture of how we are called to live, may this noted separation remind us to pause and rejoice, pray and give thanks. 

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
"16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

​I would say in general I am not a huge information giver. I am not an over-sharer (most of the time), in fact, I probably under share, leave out details and intentionally hold back, which can frustrate certain people in my life who love all the deets! (aka, my mom. LOL)

For someone that shares publicly about my life, struggles, victories in Jesus and my testimony, you may be surprised how guarded I really am. I often operate on a "need to know basis" or a "you'll know when you know" expectation and hope people to be okay with how I operate. 

Some might say it's controlling, others might say I'm incredible guarded and have a difficult time trusting people. Whichever it is, I am also fine when others don't share all the details or wait until the last minute to let me know what I need to know. I kind of just trust that if I need to know something, I will and if I don't, I'm all good.

So WHY??? Why have I spent so much time obsessing over what the thorn in Paul's side was?!?! Why did he hold back on the details. Why the lack of info?

Was it an actual thorn? If it was, that certainly would hurt. Was it a representation of a mental struggle, depression, anxiety, loneliness? Those can be difficult to navigate. Could it have been a physical issue, a festerring wound, chronic pain?

Lately, I have begun to think that the thorn in his side was sciatica! Why do I think that... because of the battle I am going through with my own sciatic nerve issues, treatments, and debilitating pain.

The past 6 months month of crying out to God for relief, crying on my pillow, being held back from doing so many of the things I want to do and need to get done have been halted. As I call to God, I hear him say so clearly “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Well God, I am weak. I am weary of it. So I ask...may I respond as Paul did and  boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I see God's grace in the moments of relief He gives me. I see God's grace when His strength pushes me through the pain to keep going. I see God's grace when I worship and my eyes are lifted to the King. I see God's grace in how He manages my days and helps me through it with hope.

He is my anchor. He is my hope that things will get better...and even if they don't His power is perfect and without flaw.

I don't need to know what the thorn actually was, I just need to know that God's grace is sufficient.  

In your struggle, in your deep pain, join me in lifting our eyes to the hills, opening are heart to hear God say “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

​Today was one of those days where I confirmed that God's Word was coming at me from every direction.  All through this past weekend and then two different devotionals I was doing today, it was clear. I saw it in the songs I was singing and perhaps the song I will write. 

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

​Pain drives me to the end of myself. It makes it hard for me to think, to process and to feel capable of being human and being humane. This pain in my body that I have been dealing with exposes my weaknesses physically and emotionally. It's God that lifts my eyes and stirs my soul to remember this is where I get to see His power. The power that He says is made perfect in my weakness. His power rests on me. His power rests on you by His grace.

In my weakness, in my pain, God gives me sufficient grace and space to see His power. He stirs a strong spirit in me to stay the course, to press on, to trust Him in it and through it all.

If you are in a season of pain, may I encourage you as I encourage myself, to hear and bury the words of Jesus in your soul. He may not take it away, but He WILL give you the grace to be in it and go through it. His power will rest on you.

​There is so much waiting for us on the other side of surrender.