I hate my weaknesses. I hate my infirmities. I hate the areas in which I struggle, the areas in which I fall short, the areas in which I fail. I want to be in control. I want to be able to take care of myself. I don’t want to mess up. I want to be perfect.
It’s a constant tension. Trying to do things on my own, or letting go and relying on God. Getting upset and angry when I fall short, or trying to be thankful for and accepting of God’s grace. Does anyone else have this struggle?
I read something in 31 Days of Praise today that, truthfully, made me angry at first. I’ll share it with you:
“Thank You (God) that I can trust You to remove or change any of my weaknesses and handicaps and shortcomings the moment they are no longer needed for Your glory, and for my good, and for the good of other people…and that in the meantime, Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.”
Now I know these points are true, but it certainly doesn’t seem like God wants to remove or change my weaknesses and handicaps and shortcomings. The anxiety and depression have been going on for over fifteen years–isn’t that long enough? And how exactly is He getting glory from these struggles of mine? How am I being benefited? And how are others being helped?
I guess it’s not for me to know these things. It’s just for me to trust. But it’s so damn difficult! I just want the struggles to go away!
On the other hand, I know that there are people who struggle with worse things than I do. I am still physically healthy for the most part. I have a husband, family, and friends who love me. I have food and clothing and a roof over my head. And I have hope. I have God. I have an eternity with Him.
I know–I have to believe–that some day I will look back from the other side of this trial, and I will see the good in it. How it has brought glory to God. How it has benefited me. And how it has helped others. Or maybe I won’t see until heaven.
But I CAN look back on other things in my past–things that I didn’t think I would get through–and be able to say with gratefulness that God carried me to the other side. That the difficulties made me stronger. And that although I may not have been able to help throngs of people, I was given opportunities to share what I had been through, if only to help someone else feel that they were not alone.
Even though tears stream down my face right now and they are tears of hurt and frustration, I’ve got to believe that some day I will be able to look back and there will be tears of joy.
Because that’s what my God says. And even if everything flies in the face of what He says is true, I must take Him at His Word. I must hold on to Him with all of my strength, and not let go. Because He hasn’t let go of me.
Photo Credit: Desktop Nexus
Knees to the Earth 