
"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." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Today marks two weeks of Mackenzie being sick. She is slowly improving, but still has pain and isn't "back to normal" yet. Two weeks is a long time when there's a lot of sickness and not a lot of answers. But God, in His grace, is providing plenty of room for growth.
As emotions around here are beginning to run thin, I am reminded of my humility. I don't mean that I'm reminded of my humble heart. I'm afraid that "prideful" is a better word to use when talking about my heart. I mean that I am reminded of my weakness, my need, my humble condition.
As moms, it's easy for us to think that we can hold everything together. That's our job, right? But then something happens that shows us how incapable we are on our own. The baby decides to go through the "terrible two's" a couple of months early. The car breaks down the same week that the savings account runs out of funds. One of the kids gets sick and just isn't getting better.
These trials are painful blessings. Some situations leave us so helpless that we have no other choice but to turn to the cross and the grace that is offered there. We will all endure struggles on this earth. Your problems are different than mine. Your difficulties may seem to pale in comparison to mine. Or, mine may be just a drop in the bucket compared to what you're going through right now. Yet, the gospel is sufficient for us all.
Today, my greatest struggle is against my own sinfulness. My patience is low and my frustrations are high. I have continually needed to flee from sin.....and to run to the cross. But that's exactly where I should be all the time. I am always helpless to be good, to be righteous, to be kind. On my best days and on my worst days, I am still the same. I am a human, born in sin and in desperate need of a Savior.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved..." (Ephesians 2:4)
So, today, I must thank Jesus for the cross that saved me, the grace that sustains me, and the trials that drive me to Him once again.
You may want to read more on how the gospel relates to homemaking or on dealing with a difficult day (that's where I'm headed right now!).
Photo credit: tribalslamdance