I hate the feeling of being so weak there is nothing left but tears. My body is so tied up it seems and it is hard to not focus on what hurts. But focus it does. As C.S. Lewis commented, “Pain demands attending to. It is God’s megaphone for rousing the world.”
So I want to be roused. I know that God’s grace is sufficient for me because His power is made perfect in my weakness. I feel the power to surrender and do so freely. I feel the power to endure day by day, often moment by moment. But the power to overcome seems evasive. But then, overcoming is not just captured in the excitement of being the first one to cross the finish line, or making the winning goal in a soccer game. Sometimes the overcoming spirit is to plow through the battle confident of God’s victory, to not give in to what Leukemia is doing to my body and mind, but waiting for His resolution of the matter in His timing. I have so much more to learn, to experience the confidence of Stephen while he was stoned, the hope of Paul as he was flogged, the passion of Jesus as He suffered for us.
Every moment, no matter what type of hurt we endure, there is power to overcome, if only because it is our great God who is our overcomer, and whose love never abandons us.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
What a wonderful reminder. Your posts so often seem to touch close to home. I know what it is like to live moment to moment in pain and grateful when you can go from day to day instead. I pray for your continued strength; strength in all physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Love, Light, & Prayers ~ Trish
Thanks Trish. Our God will meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19. Let us know if there are prayer concerns we can lift up for you. (Email or public post) Thayers
Wow, what a humble and faith-filled post, Bryan! Reminds me a lot of John Stumbo’s journey through his sudden and devastating illness. My prayer for you this morning is that the “God of all grace” will pour out His grace on you to resist the enemy and endure your suffering until He brings you through it to a place of greater joy and greater influence than would have been possible without it.
“6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter 5 ESV)
Blessings to you and Marcia today.
Bob
Thanks Bob. Though I’m sure John’s struggle exceeded mine, it is a daily battle. Thanks for the encouraging scripture. Bryan