Year 4-Day 32: Today, I am grateful that our struggles, faults and our failures are not final.
This image pops up every once in awhile. It always brings me to pause. These are some of the great men and women of faith in the New and Old Testament. God was able to use their imperfection to His glory. Their faults to lead them to a deeper understanding of his love and forgiveness...and his power.
Lazarus was dead! That certainly seemed final.
One of the great strategies Satan uses is our own self talk. He defeats us in our heads and that impacts our hearts. One of the great miracles from the hand of God is our uniqueness. God looks on his children and see splendor in our quirks. He sees beauty in our scars. He sees opportunity to grow us in our struggles. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
At times, we can't see beyond what is wrong to get a clear vision of what is right. Some struggles are necessary. A baby experiences some struggles in the birth process. That struggle in birth helps prepare them for their first breath. The difficulty helps us remain attuned.
Paul knew a God of healing. Paul had an inclination to pride and arrogance. God did not remove his "affliction" because it obviously served a purpose. Did it keep him humble? Did it slow him down? Did it help Paul relate to the suffering of others and build his compassion. Our God can perform miracles, but sometimes the testimony of one faithful in affliction serves a bigger witness. Do those who receive the miracle quickly forget the Master?
The scripture from Luke 17:10-19 indicates who quickly we forget:
"On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Ten healed...one returned to say,"thank you".
While those who live with some suffering learn dependence and trust?
These words from Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthian church:
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 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. 10 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 12:8-10
His power is made perfect in our weakness. That is a promise. It is a fact. All we need to do is seek his face and surrender. He forgives. He polishes. He sustains. He is our perfect place of peace - even on the hardest days.
Today, I am grateful that our struggles, faults and our failures are not final.
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