life in the briar patch

“Three different times I begged God to make me well again. Each time he said, ‘No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.’ Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities.

“Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about ‘the thorn,’ and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong - the less I have, the more I depend on him.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

My child,

I know you want answers, but I have some questions for you this morning. Do you really believe I am all you need? What if I don’t choose to heal you? What if it glorifies me more for you to minister to others from a place of weakness?

What if my light is more apparent shining through all the broken places in your armor? How will you feel about me if I don’t provide the rescue, remedy your pain, and fix your circumstances? What will you believe about me if the insults, hardships, sickness and difficulties continue?

Do you believe this is evidence that my love has lessened for you? Does my character change when your life gets difficult and I don’t provide the smooth passage to paradise?

I love you, my child, with a perfect, changeless, endless love. That does not shift with the rolling landscape of your life. Many times the journey will get tough. The winds of adversity may beat you down, you may stumble over the sharp rocks of betrayal, and get caught in a torrential downpour of hardship.

I will sustain you. My love is better than life – even the most polished, perfect life you can imagine.

I love you,

Abba

My Abba,

When I have my head on straight, I do believe you are all I need. How can you lack any good thing? You are flawless.

When I warm my heart by the blaze of your perfect beauty, I get to experience some of that glory. It is breathtaking. The closer I get, the more magnificent you look. The more our intimacy grows, the more I am satisfied.

I guess all of this begs the question, "Am I really committed to your glory or is that just something I say when I feel spiritual?" If I am committed to your glory above all things, then any, and every, situation is just another opportunity for you to create a display of your splendor in my life.

If you don’t choose to heal me, I know tomorrow can still be better than today as I move closer to your heart. I want to be a part of this epic adventure with you.

Increase my capacity for your love each day. Please heighten my delight in you and my sense of your delight in me. The shadowy “what-ifs” about tomorrow seem to fade as I walk into the glorious light of your love.

Please use every hurt, struggle and victory to accomplish your plans and purposes in, and through, me. I will be one of your broken beauties, if that is what you want.

I don’t think I will ever be ecstatic about the “thorns,” but I will find joy in you in the midst of the briar patch. Today, in my weaknesses, draw me near to your heart so that I might be overwhelmed by your beauty, not by the brambles in my life.

I love you,

Mollie

photo: jeff holcombe