Hold On, Just A Little Bit Longer...

2 Cor 12: 7-10

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This is the verse that has kept me going this week. The Chaplain on Sunday spoke the words that I needed to hear. (I LOVE when that happens!!) I have pleaded that God would take away the struggles that I am going through, or fix them, make them easier, please God, do something because this is not easy. But, He has not taken them away, He has not made them easier. But, I was reminded that just because He doesn’t answer my prayer the WAY that I want Him to answer, does not mean it is not being answered. He is leaving this thorn in my side for a reason. He is allowing me to suffer and struggle for a reason. In its own way, that is so incredibly comforting to me. He (the Chaplain) said that God will answer in three ways, “Yes, No, or hold on just a little bit longer.” My answer that He has given me is to hold on just a little bit longer, and I will continue to hold on.

I was also comforted in the reminder that my future is not in the hands of man. My future is in the hands of God. God will move through the people that are in charge of my future, and He will move them how He sees fit. Yes, everyone higher than me may be running this organization, but God is ultimately giving the orders, whether they know it or not, it doesn’t matter (thankfully). So why should I worry? God is in control, there isn’t any other hope or comfort that is better than that. What a relief that gave, how much joy arose in me because of this Godly reminder. God is in control.

That is all I have to say for this short blog. My struggles are the same but they have been brought to the attention of others who may or may not be able to help me. I have stood up for myself and my Soldiers. If things change, it’s because God has instructed them to. If things do not change, it is because has instructed them to stay the same. Either way, God’s instructions to me now are to hold on just a little bit longer, to not worry, and to know that His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in my weakness. How beautiful is this hard lesson I am learning.

Father God, thank you. Thank you for this lesson You are teaching. I love the reminder that You are in control, and that I am not here by accident. You are the ultimate orchestrator of my life and the lives of everyone and there isn’t a better musician than You. You have made all things beautiful, including this lesson and though it has been incredibly miserable, I do thank You. Please continue to guide me, and usually carry me through these next few days. Thank you for my mom and her sweet advice to me to pray to get me through the next hour, and pray again for each hour. I have done this, and you have not forsaken me. I praise You Lord and thank You. In Your precious and Holy Name I pray, Amen.