Weakness

This morning I woke up battling discouragement.  It is so easy to read and agree with God's advice to "rejoice in the Lord always" and to "in everything give thanks", but it is not always so easy to DO.  When I've prayed that God's will be done in a situation and then it feels like it didn't go well, it's easy to forget that God's eyes see more than human eyes do and that "all things work together for good".

I am still dealing with issues of perfectionism and the challenges of messing up in a public way.  And no, things did not go perfectly yesterday from a human perspective.  I believe my prayers were indeed heard and that all was indeed perfect no matter what it looks like to human eyes. Yet it is not easy to rejoice when I feel public humiliation!  My inclination is to bury my head in my pillow and never leave the house again!  Yet, this morning, once again, God spoke to me as I cried out to Him.  This morning He reminds me, "my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)  If I want to have God's strength in my life, I have to be willing to exhibit weakness!  Wow, that's so hard for me.  Clearly pride has more of a hold on my life than I realized!  Looking at the context of this verse, I realize that Paul experienced similar struggles.  He says:

"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (New Living Translation)

What a concept! When I am weak, then I am strong!  It's hard to wrap my head around that, but I know it is true.  I hear the ring of authenticity in Paul's words and realize that I am in training.  When I can truly take pleasure in ALL circumstances, I know I will be much closer to living the life God intends for me.  When I can truly give thanks and rejoice in EVERYTHING, I will be a living example of that mustard seed of faith having grown into a full tree.  

So, Father, I once again "stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right".  I am reminded to trust that "all things work together for good"and that You who have "begun a good work" in me will see it to completion" and that You do "all things well".  Thank you, Father, for this "open door" that you have set before me, and for the many promises you continue to shower on me as I "wrestle not against flesh & blood, but against principalities"!  These principles are not easy and too often I struggle to put them into practice.  Being thankful and joy-filled in ALL circumstances is such a "new song" for me to learn to sing! I am grateful for your "music lessons", Father!  The words of a song come to mind: 

"He keeps me singing a happy song
He keeps me singing it all day long.
Although the days may be drear, He always is near,
And that's why my heart is always filled with song;
I'm singing, singing, all day long."

Thank you, Father, for those words to carry with me as I move through my day.  Please guide my thoughts and actions that they may be in alignment with your will!  Thank you, Father!