II Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
7And lest I
should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in
the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted
above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord
three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore
most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for
Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I’ve
mediated on these verses in the days following, they have so encouraged
me. Being 35 weeks pregnant, I have felt
helpless in some situations. There are
things I cannot move, or lift, or do and other things I cannot do as well.
I find
myself misplacing words, I can intend to say please give me the red shirt and
what comes out is give me the blue shirt.
If you have been pregnant or even distracted by something taking place
in your life I am sure you have experienced this as well. The other day my toddler was at the grocery
store with me and as we are loading the car with groceries, I asked him, “climb
in your seat and I’ll give you your buckle.”
When I meant to say “climb in your seat, put on your buckle and I’ll
give you my phone” to play a game while I finished loading groceries. But that is not what came out and I received
the blank stare that I have seen frequently lately. My husband and my children will say that’s
not what you asked me to move or bring to you.
This even
reminds me of a time, I had hurt my back and was in extreme pain, my husband
and I were out and I asked the waiter for a strawberry coke and he said “you
mean a cherry coke” and I would say “yes a strawberry coke” and he said it
again and I did mean cherry but with the pain I was feeling my mind was
elsewhere. I laugh about it now, but I
was getting upset and frustrated at the waiter and my husband had to speak up and
take over because I was not handling the situation well.
Meditating
on the His Grace is sufficient for me, HIS strength is made perfect in my
weakness, helps me rely and look to Him.
The other night my husband was reminding my children that things were
going to change once mommy has this baby and has her full energy back. He was telling them this because I’ve allowed
more toy messes to remain, I’ve become more relaxed with some things as a
result of knowing I can’t make everything perfect.
I am
naturally a take charge, get things done, but in recognizing my weakness and my
need to rely on and depend on others for help has been good for me. I feel more relaxed, I feel okay when things
do not take place the way I would do them.
It is a good reminder to carry on relying on His strength and make room
for others even after I’ve given birth.
The truth is
we need each other, I need my husband, although I do not always express that to
him. I need my boys as young as they are
to help around the house it is good training and teaching for them, but too
often, when you can do it easier, faster, and the exact way you want it done,
you just do it and do not allow others to help you. In my pregnant state, I have been forced to
rely on them and it has been good for me and good for them. This being my fourth birth, I do not feel as
much stress and pressure to have everything ready, and in place. Although things are ready and in place, I
have not felt and forced on others that press, this has to be done, of my
normal checklist of things.
Last week
one of my children was not feeling well and had thrown up in our bed on our
comforter. I do not do throw up, even
when I am not pregnant I cannot stand the smell, but even more so being
pregnant I know I cannot handle that smell.
I have not thrown up since I was a young child, I feel I did that once,
did not like it, will not do that again.
I believe as a result of often stating I do not do throw up I have never
had morning sickness with any of my pregnancies and my children do not throw up
either. I can count on one hand the
times all of my children together have thrown up and they are 8, 6, and 4. Anyways, I knew I could not clean up the
mess, and my husband was not interested in washing and cleaning up the mess
either in the middle of the night, so he said I am going to throw this
comforter and bedding out and I completely agreed with him, with great joy, I
was perfectly okay with that. When I
think if I was not pregnant and aware of my own weakness I would have not been
happy with this decision. I would have
expressed great displeasure in this action, even though I myself would not be
able to handle it. Gratefully a friend
gave us a beautiful bedding set to replace it when she found out we just threw
ours out. I did not give any thought to
we would have to purchase a new one, I just went with the flow and said okay
throw it out. The Lord provided the very
next day, my friend heard we had thrown out our bedding she said she had one we
could have. I just stand back at times
and look at some situations I have handled and think, Lord please help me
handle this the same way when I feel stronger.
The verse has become so real to me that His strength is perfected in my
weakness. I have walked in a greater
grace I have walked in greater peace even though I am weak. It is not because of me, but because of His
love, His grace, His presence and my surrendering, my yielding, and recognizing
my weakness, relinquishing of my rights, my way.
Too often
when we feel strong or we know we are great at a certain area, we rely on our
own strength, our own talent or gift that we do not make room for others, we do
not allow input from others. We do not
make room for others to grow in their strengths because we flourish in our own
strength.
Our New Bedding |
I just think
how awesome if we can stay aware of our weakness all the time, not just in
times of specific physical weakness. The
truth is we all have weakness in our life.
As a wife, I cannot complete and fulfill every need my husband has. I have weakness as a parent, I cannot give my
children everything they need spirit, soul, and body at all times. I will make mistakes, I am not a perfect mom,
wife, daughter, sister, or friend but if I would rely on His grace and allow
God and others to have room, space, their way.
Not demanding my way, not demanding my pace then His grace is perfected
in my weakness as I look to Him to make up the difference, as I look to Him to
lead me in being a wife to my husband, as I look to Him to lead me in being a
mother to my children and all the other hats I wear. Then I am more relaxed, not only do I enjoy
life at a greater level, but others enjoy being around me.
I write this
to encourage you to step back, take a breath, I know life can be stressful but
as you relinquish your rights, and your way and allow God and the people in
your life to help things are better for all parties involved.
Do not be so
rushed going from point A to point B, even in the everyday life tasks. Too many of us are in a hurry, scurrying
about. Too many of us demand things to
be in the place and perfect way we want it done. I have kind of been forced to slow down with
my pregnancy waddle but it has been a good thing to slow down, and enjoy my
children, enjoy a slower pace. I love
not feeling so rushed, I love this Jessica that is not so pressed to have
everything perfect I love this Jessica that is recognizing God’s strength is
perfected in my weakness. I am enjoying
the peace I feel even when I am making those mistakes of not getting the
correct sentence or request or word out, I have laughed at myself and just
stand in awe of what our bodies do in carrying a baby, both the good and the
uncomfortable moments.
I also find
people make room for you when you are pregnant.
They are in some way aware of your weakness if you would and offer up
their strength, just like Christ, His strength perfected in our weakness. There is nothing weak about having a baby but
see the picture I am painting in light of the scripture verse I read. Strangers and those you know, offer more
help, will hold a door open, and give up their seat for you, go out and pick up
that pregnancy craving you are having when in reality we should live this way
all the time, not only for pregnant women but for all people. We should be so aware of those around us and
aware when they need extra help, a door held for them, a seat given up for
them, a smile, or thank you card sent their way.
So I encourage you in the days following step back, recognize your weaknesses and allow God to supply His strength, allow others in your life to supply their strengths. Make room for others to help and offer input, make room for others to make mistakes that are not life and death. Does that thing have to be where you had it, or is it okay where they placed it?
So I encourage you in the days following step back, recognize your weaknesses and allow God to supply His strength, allow others in your life to supply their strengths. Make room for others to help and offer input, make room for others to make mistakes that are not life and death. Does that thing have to be where you had it, or is it okay where they placed it?
Look around
is there someone in your life who is a little distracted either by a good thing
getting married, having a baby, moving, or a more difficult thing, offer up
your help, offer up encouragement and make room for them to grow through their
moment, offer up your strength in their weakness.
Thank you
for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with
your friends.
Here is a beautiful song about Grace
Strength Made Perfect in Weakness
Strength Made Perfect in Weakness
II Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
7And lest I
should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in
the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted
above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord
three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore
most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for
Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I’ve
mediated on these verses in the days following, they have so encouraged
me. Being 35 weeks pregnant, I have felt
helpless in some situations. There are
things I cannot move, or lift, or do and other things I cannot do as well.
I find
myself misplacing words, I can intend to say please give me the red shirt and
what comes out is give me the blue shirt.
If you have been pregnant or even distracted by something taking place
in your life I am sure you have experienced this as well. The other day my toddler was at the grocery
store with me and as we are loading the car with groceries, I asked him, “climb
in your seat and I’ll give you your buckle.”
When I meant to say “climb in your seat, put on your buckle and I’ll
give you my phone” to play a game while I finished loading groceries. But that is not what came out and I received
the blank stare that I have seen frequently lately. My husband and my children will say that’s
not what you asked me to move or bring to you.
This even
reminds me of a time, I had hurt my back and was in extreme pain, my husband
and I were out and I asked the waiter for a strawberry coke and he said “you
mean a cherry coke” and I would say “yes a strawberry coke” and he said it
again and I did mean cherry but with the pain I was feeling my mind was
elsewhere. I laugh about it now, but I
was getting upset and frustrated at the waiter and my husband had to speak up and
take over because I was not handling the situation well.
Meditating
on the His Grace is sufficient for me, HIS strength is made perfect in my
weakness, helps me rely and look to Him.
The other night my husband was reminding my children that things were
going to change once mommy has this baby and has her full energy back. He was telling them this because I’ve allowed
more toy messes to remain, I’ve become more relaxed with some things as a
result of knowing I can’t make everything perfect.
I am
naturally a take charge, get things done, but in recognizing my weakness and my
need to rely on and depend on others for help has been good for me. I feel more relaxed, I feel okay when things
do not take place the way I would do them.
It is a good reminder to carry on relying on His strength and make room
for others even after I’ve given birth.
The truth is
we need each other, I need my husband, although I do not always express that to
him. I need my boys as young as they are
to help around the house it is good training and teaching for them, but too
often, when you can do it easier, faster, and the exact way you want it done,
you just do it and do not allow others to help you. In my pregnant state, I have been forced to
rely on them and it has been good for me and good for them. This being my fourth birth, I do not feel as
much stress and pressure to have everything ready, and in place. Although things are ready and in place, I
have not felt and forced on others that press, this has to be done, of my
normal checklist of things.
Last week
one of my children was not feeling well and had thrown up in our bed on our
comforter. I do not do throw up, even
when I am not pregnant I cannot stand the smell, but even more so being
pregnant I know I cannot handle that smell.
I have not thrown up since I was a young child, I feel I did that once,
did not like it, will not do that again.
I believe as a result of often stating I do not do throw up I have never
had morning sickness with any of my pregnancies and my children do not throw up
either. I can count on one hand the
times all of my children together have thrown up and they are 8, 6, and 4. Anyways, I knew I could not clean up the
mess, and my husband was not interested in washing and cleaning up the mess
either in the middle of the night, so he said I am going to throw this
comforter and bedding out and I completely agreed with him, with great joy, I
was perfectly okay with that. When I
think if I was not pregnant and aware of my own weakness I would have not been
happy with this decision. I would have
expressed great displeasure in this action, even though I myself would not be
able to handle it. Gratefully a friend
gave us a beautiful bedding set to replace it when she found out we just threw
ours out. I did not give any thought to
we would have to purchase a new one, I just went with the flow and said okay
throw it out. The Lord provided the very
next day, my friend heard we had thrown out our bedding she said she had one we
could have. I just stand back at times
and look at some situations I have handled and think, Lord please help me
handle this the same way when I feel stronger.
The verse has become so real to me that His strength is perfected in my
weakness. I have walked in a greater
grace I have walked in greater peace even though I am weak. It is not because of me, but because of His
love, His grace, His presence and my surrendering, my yielding, and recognizing
my weakness, relinquishing of my rights, my way.
Too often
when we feel strong or we know we are great at a certain area, we rely on our
own strength, our own talent or gift that we do not make room for others, we do
not allow input from others. We do not
make room for others to grow in their strengths because we flourish in our own
strength.
Our New Bedding |
I just think
how awesome if we can stay aware of our weakness all the time, not just in
times of specific physical weakness. The
truth is we all have weakness in our life.
As a wife, I cannot complete and fulfill every need my husband has. I have weakness as a parent, I cannot give my
children everything they need spirit, soul, and body at all times. I will make mistakes, I am not a perfect mom,
wife, daughter, sister, or friend but if I would rely on His grace and allow
God and others to have room, space, their way.
Not demanding my way, not demanding my pace then His grace is perfected
in my weakness as I look to Him to make up the difference, as I look to Him to
lead me in being a wife to my husband, as I look to Him to lead me in being a
mother to my children and all the other hats I wear. Then I am more relaxed, not only do I enjoy
life at a greater level, but others enjoy being around me.
I write this
to encourage you to step back, take a breath, I know life can be stressful but
as you relinquish your rights, and your way and allow God and the people in
your life to help things are better for all parties involved.
Do not be so
rushed going from point A to point B, even in the everyday life tasks. Too many of us are in a hurry, scurrying
about. Too many of us demand things to
be in the place and perfect way we want it done. I have kind of been forced to slow down with
my pregnancy waddle but it has been a good thing to slow down, and enjoy my
children, enjoy a slower pace. I love
not feeling so rushed, I love this Jessica that is not so pressed to have
everything perfect I love this Jessica that is recognizing God’s strength is
perfected in my weakness. I am enjoying
the peace I feel even when I am making those mistakes of not getting the
correct sentence or request or word out, I have laughed at myself and just
stand in awe of what our bodies do in carrying a baby, both the good and the
uncomfortable moments.
I also find
people make room for you when you are pregnant.
They are in some way aware of your weakness if you would and offer up
their strength, just like Christ, His strength perfected in our weakness. There is nothing weak about having a baby but
see the picture I am painting in light of the scripture verse I read. Strangers and those you know, offer more
help, will hold a door open, and give up their seat for you, go out and pick up
that pregnancy craving you are having when in reality we should live this way
all the time, not only for pregnant women but for all people. We should be so aware of those around us and
aware when they need extra help, a door held for them, a seat given up for
them, a smile, or thank you card sent their way.
So I encourage you in the days following step back, recognize your weaknesses and allow God to supply His strength, allow others in your life to supply their strengths. Make room for others to help and offer input, make room for others to make mistakes that are not life and death. Does that thing have to be where you had it, or is it okay where they placed it?
So I encourage you in the days following step back, recognize your weaknesses and allow God to supply His strength, allow others in your life to supply their strengths. Make room for others to help and offer input, make room for others to make mistakes that are not life and death. Does that thing have to be where you had it, or is it okay where they placed it?
Look around
is there someone in your life who is a little distracted either by a good thing
getting married, having a baby, moving, or a more difficult thing, offer up
your help, offer up encouragement and make room for them to grow through their
moment, offer up your strength in their weakness.
Thank you
for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with
your friends.
Here is a beautiful song about Grace