The One Thing that Defines Us When Our Lives Feel Fragile

When our lives have been so deeply invested in something, saying goodbye to it can hurt like the death of a loved one.  Maybe it’s ok to grieve.  We aren’t defined by the situations that happen to us.  The world would say we are defined by the way we handle or rise above.  And really?  Maybe we aren’t defined by that either.

 
 I’ve never met a person who handles every situation without a wrong turn.  Everyone I know?  Yeah, we’ve all made mistakes.  Big and small.  We all struggle differently.  We all process differently.  We show emotion differently.  What then do we hold to when we are hurting?

Jesus. Jesus is the anchor. He calls us His beloved.  And He doesn’t love us based on our good choices or how well we handle the hurt.  He knew.  He knows.  We’re going to mess this life up.  Yet, His love remains.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.      ~Romans 5:6-11

While we were still sinners?  Jesus gave His very life for us knowing we’d hold this world with such a fickle understanding of His ways.  He knew we’d really get it wrong.  He knew we’d be sorry excuses for disciples so many, many days of our lives.  And He died for us.

The way we handle something?  The way we choose the higher road?   Our own power to rise above?  Sometimes I’m just not that strong.   It won’t make us or break us, because our hope is in Jesus’ perfection and not our own.

  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 12:9

He is strong.  I don’t have to carry my life in my own strength.  Thank goodness, right?!  Friends, we don’t have that kind of power.  But there is One who does. I am weak.  Some days, I’m a real hot mess.  I can be a bit of a loose cannon with words and hurts and baggage.  If you get it wrong too?  {Hint: We all get it wrong.  Good news is on the way.}  There is One who has it all perfected in His hands.  There is One who is strong when we are weak.  What have we to boast in?  Nada.  Nothing.  We must put our hope in Christ alone.

 We can share our weakness with the world and say, “It’s only Jesus that takes my mess and gives beauty for ashes.”

When life feels so fragile.  When we’re grieved over what we couldn’t salvage by our own strength, we have Jesus.  He is the Savior. May the hardest moments be the moments that we cry out to Jesus. 

Jesus, all I have is yours.  You give and take away.  Take my heart.  I give you all that I have because my only certainty is You.  Nothing can seperate me from You, Lord.  I praise you for THAT!  Nothing can seperate us from the love of Christ and in this weakness, You are strong.  Everything we hold dear belongs to You, Jesus.  May our claim to strength always be Your great Name: Jesus.  You are God with us.  Thank you, Lord.  To God be the glory.

Friends, He will carry us through.  Put your hope in Him alone.

From my heart to yours,    ~Courtney