The strength of support
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:10
My eighty-year-old mom passed out. As I cradled her bleeding head in my arms, my heart wrenched. When she finally came around, she spent the next few days in the hospital, recovering from a stroke. Mom fractured her paralyzed arm and had a hemorrhage on her brain, not to mention a nasty headache.
My parents came back to my house for a few days after her release from the hospital where I had the opportunity to serve and care for her. I learned a great life lesson through her care. I wanted to do everything for her. I wanted to make everything as easy as possible because she was weak and in pain. But as I watched, I realized I couldn’t do everything for her. It was hard—the things she had to do relearn were a struggle. A struggle to stand . . . to walk. A struggle to keep her balance. As much as I wanted to do more for Mom, I realized she had to struggle. She had to push herself up and walk. If not, she’d grow weaker . . . and weaker. She’d stand from the sofa and I’d walk alongside, holding her gently, making sure she kept her balance.
That’s when the picture of God’s presence came to me. God doesn’t do everything for us, making life simple and easy. He’s certainly able, yet He allows us to struggle because it is in that struggle where we grow strong . . . in Him. It is when we are weak that He walks patiently beside us, steadying us, helping us get where we need to go.
As you struggle in life, ask God to let you feel His loving arm wrapped around your waist—holding you close—supporting you when you’re unsteady. Lean into Him and grow strong. Mom did.
Mary Denman is an author and photographer and, in her words, an observer. She’s a homeschool mom of five kids. Mary’s keen eye through the camera has allowed her to capture much of God’s beauty in new and unique ways. You can visit Mary at http://marydenman.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html.
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*Photo by worradmu – used by permission FreeDigitalPhotos.net