So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Do you remember singing "Jesus Loves Me" when you were young? It's one of those songs that we've resigned to Children's Church or kid bible studies, yet it is so full of words and wisdom that we grown ups often forget. Consider the first verse: "Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so." The older I get, the more I realize I don't stop becoming one of the "little ones." I am weak. I face more than I can handle more often than I thought I would. Right now, my heart is hurting. Several families that I love dearly are currently dealing with far more than they can handle. We are weak, but He is strong. That's why I think that this is more than a kids song. Sometimes, all I can do in my hurt is remember these simple words, and cling to the rock that is higher than I.
It's okay to not be okay. The life we live in this world is a broken one, and we need to strive for the perfect, not within ourselves (we'll never find it there), but within the Holy Uncreated One, who is toiling, even now, to bring His creation back to His perfection and original design. I can't, but He can. I am weak, but He is strong, and yes, Jesus loves me. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
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