Thank You For This Thorn

He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

We have all asked the Lord to remove some thorn from our lives.

It's a different thorn for each of us.

There are times He allows a trouble to pass, but other times we must endure and grow stronger by walking with Him through suffering.

I once told the Lord that I could not bear taking one more step in a trial He had ordained for me.

I just couldn't.

So He endured it through me.

He picked me up and carried me through a long season of loss and darkness. It was frightening. I often felt I might go under. Hope seemed distant.

One day He put it upon my heart to write down any blessings I had enjoyed in the midst of my pain. 

Some days it was a simple beautiful sunset.

One day someone might have said an encouraging word.

I wrote each simple gift in a journal.

I was learning to praise. And even though it was the praise of one just learning, I was blessed by my efforts. 

Jesus inhabits the praises of His people.

 I'm old now. Jesus and I have journeyed quite a ways together.

I learned, way back when, that He definitely knows what is best. Praise comes a little easier. Trust has grown. And even though pain still hurts and at times I don't particularly want to embrace my cross, I know what lies at the end of each journey through each valley....

less of me and more of Him.

It's always good.

He has never let me down.

He has never asked me to journey alone.

He has always met my deepest needs in the most painful places in my journeys.

I trust Him.

He can be trusted.

I know there are going to be increasing opportunities to pick up my cross and follow, but I know He and I will be together. That gives me peace.

The Lord gave me a song for my journey way back in time....that long ago valley I just knew would never end, and for sure would be the death of me and my hope and my joy.

It wasn't the end by the way....I'm still here and I've moved past that pain, and I grew deeply in Jesus through it all.