Abundant Grace

In referring to his "thorn in the flesh," the Apostle Paul wrote this:

"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.' That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses...for when I am weak, then I am strong."

I must confess that I have often asked God to take away the grief, the heavy heart, the loneliness, the sadness that I feel. I think He is doing that, gradually, and I am thankful. But I'm impatient and want instant healing. However, the Lord speaks through this passage and says to me, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

I'm glad He doesn't say, "You need to be strong, and then I will be strong." Rather, He is saying, "I'm at my best when you have nothing left." All that is left is to rest in Jesus. To believe His Word. To allow Him to do His work. To know His timing is perfect. To thank Him for His faithfulness.

Changes

I have not posted on this blog for a very long time. These have been very difficult and often dark months. In my last post I wrote about Christmas shopping and the anticipation of that holiday. Less than two weeks later my sweet husband of almost 41 years died unexpectedly, passing from this life to eternity in the presence of the Lord he loved and served. Devastated. Shocked. Heartbroken. Half of me missing. Indescribable sadness.

Yet, I have survived for one-and-a-quarter years. I praise the Savior who welcomed home the man I had shared my life with for more than four decades, all the while holding me in His arms so that I would not fall apart. He has proved Himself loving and faithful. He is a great God.

My blogging these past months has been on Caring Bridge, and I will continue to write there. Keeping two blogs? That would be a stretch for me. I don't know if anyone even reads this blog, but I likely will not be back here for a long time.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." 2 Thess. 3:16,18