Preach the Gospel to Yourself

Life is hard.

It is beautiful.

And messy.

But can be so hard.

I am not sure how many people read my blog, and out of those that do, how many have kids that have chronic health issues.  But I would wager a guess that any parent would say that the hardest part of parenting is watching your child(ren) struggle through something. 

It really, honestly, doesn't matter if that something is a product of that child's foolishness or if it is something they did not ask for.  It is just so hard to watch your child(ren) struggle. 

Some days I can slip into thinking we are just like anyone else.  Normal family, with normal kids.  Other days, it is unavoidable to see the stark differences.  The days where the stark differences show up, they honestly gut me.  It is hard to hold in the tears.  It is hard to scream IT.ISN'T.FAIR.  It is hard not to grab someone by the shoulders and say STOP passing judgment on my family, my parenting, and ESPECIALLY on my kids.  They are beautiful.  They are compassionate,  They care DEEPLY. 

But in those moments of utter frustration, I am once again reminded that right now, this moment, this is the time to preach truth to yourself.  Rarely are you going to have someone who will climb down in the trenches with you and preach truth to your heart. 

Sometimes we are given that gift. 

And it is priceless.

But during the dark hours of the night, you have to dig in and dig deep and speak out of your mouth what you KNOW to be true.

God created my children.  He knit them together in my womb.  Every cell, every neuron was put in place for a reason.  They are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

My children are God's handiwork.  Created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do. (Eph 2:10)

But you,O Lord, are a shield about them., their glory, the One who lifts their head high. (Psalm 3:3)

And He has said, "My power is sufficient for you, (for them), for power is perfected in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)

Therefore we will learn to be content with weaknesses, insults, difficulties...because when we are weak, then we are strong.  (2 Cor 12:10)

Christ in us is the hope of glory.  (Col 1:27)

Why, my soul, are you cast down?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior, my God.  (Psalm 43:5)

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:23)  We are all going to die, we are all going to suffer, grab onto this gift with both hands. 

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also give us, give my children, ALL THINGS? (Romans 8:32)

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; (think about that for a moment, soak in that, dwell deeply in this truth, He has BORNE our griefs and CARRIED our sorrows) yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  BUT He was PIERCED for our transgressions; He was CRUSHED for our iniquities; UPON Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and WITH HIS WOUNDS we are healed.  All of us, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Praise God for the truth of His Word. 

Preach it long, preach it deep, but whatever you do, don't stop proclaiming it.