But I also have a long-standing, tragic, chronically painful situation resulting from childhood trauma, the aftereffects, and how the people involved have decided to respond to it. Has it gotten easier? Sometimes. Sometimes it is harder. Overall, it is relentless. Don’t I wish I could wave my magic wand and God would take away this thorn? He does not.
But what He does instead is so beautiful, so precious, so wonderful. In the midst of the pain, the ache, the hurt, the sometimes relentless fiery darts that come my way in this area of my life, He gives me Himself. His grace, mercy, Truth, love, light, forgiveness, comfort, peace, 24-7 access to Him, an ear, a heart more magnificent than imagination, His Word, and so much more.
And, just when I think I can’t stand the pain any longer, just when I am so tired of it all that I wonder how much more will He allow, guess what. There is God, with His refuge waiting, reminding me to come into His secret place where I am safe from the world’s hurts.
I am so tired of the pain, but I am so blessed because I have Him.
“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 7-10 NASB