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“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  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 12:8-9 (ESV)

Ever lived a chapter you wished was not a part of your story?  Oh yes, we could probably compose our book entitled, “What I didn’t want to happen,” couldn’t we?  The diagnosis we never dreamed would color our lives.  The relationships we thought would last forever walking out the door.  The losses outweighing the gains.  And then there are those moments when we are faced with hard decisions – choices we don’t want to make – deciding between obedience and pursuing our path.  Yes, lots of chapters we truly wished were not part of our story.  Yet, sweet friend it is those very unwanted chapters that shape us into one who discovers true beauty amidst the disappointments.

Unwanted chapters are not just unique to us, they also comprise the lives of those we read about in God’s Word.  The Apostle Paul was one who knew the heaviness of those chapters well.  No one would desire shipwrecks, beatings, stonings and dangerous encounters (2 Corinthians 11:16-30).  And if that wasn’t enough to halt your reading, Paul pleaded three times for God to remove the thorn in his flesh – one that tormented and harassed him (2 Corinthians 12:7).  The beauty of three positioned to keep Paul humble and dependent on the strength of His God.

Flip back to Matthew 26 and we witness another three as Jesus agonized in the garden of Gethsemane.  Crying out to His Father, Jesus asked if this cup (this chapter) could pass from Him.  One He came to fulfill, yet one Jesus cried out to His Father if possible to not write. Yet totally surrendered to God’s plan, Jesus drank from that cup dying on the cross for our sins – taking our place.  The beauty of His surrender to three gave us an opportunity to have an intimate personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and spend eternity in HIs presence.

What will we do with the chapters we don’t want to write?  Will we press through and allow God to transform our weakness into His strength?  Will we surrender to His plan versus our own?  Will we embrace the story God is writing or attempt to create our own? How we handle those moments when God’s answer is different from ours is pivotal.

Keeping it real here – I have often resisted and it never served me well.  Surrender exemplified by Jesus and Paul is our best choice.  We can completely trust our God to teach us, shape us, mold us and bring glory to His name through those chapters we don’t want to experience. The unfolding of each page births deep growth and an opportunity to share our stories (testimonies) with others.  Just as we are inspired by Jesus and Paul’s response, we too can set a godly example for others.  Best win ever.

“Father, thank You for using all the chapters of our lives to deepen our relationship with You.  Help us to surrender to Your plan and share our stories with others.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life