Sufficient through Separation

"…you do not know what a day may bring forth." ~ Proverbs 27:1

Some posts are easy to write. The words just seem to flow. Not this time. I’ve been contemplating it for days. How to talk about what you really don’t want to talk about. Then again maybe it’s good to talk about it. Maybe it’s healing. I hope so.

Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." I’m asking the Lord to show me how to personally do that simultaneously. Last Saturday, March 8th, just about three weeks after Ben became engaged, Tyler signed with the Marines. He leaves in two weeks for boot camp. Just like that! We’re talking about one whom God created to be formed inside of me. The one I breathed for, I ate for, I slept for and who had to be literally cut away from my body with a pair of surgical scissors. This is yet another incision, only this time it’s not initially physical pain, it cuts to the heart. No number of years can possibly prepare you or lessen the blow. Very painful.

Ok…now that I got that out, how do I deal with it? I’m not completely sure yet. One thing’s for sure…one day at a time. Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus…for yourself! No problem. ‘Tis a- whole-nother thing entirely to trust Him with your child. I didn’t say I didn’t trust Him with my child. I said it’s an entirely different thing. Why? Because every human being is created with the ability to choose. So, the question becomes what will he choose? What lies between the path of "training up the child" and him "not departing from it?" (Proverbs 22:6)

I’m asking God to pour His "specific" Word into my heart for this season. How do I pray for him now? I firmly believe in praying scripture. Therein lies the power. Day One, God began to speak through 2 Corinthians 12:9, both for him and for me. Very familiar verse seen in a new light. The Lord said to Paul, during a very painful time in his life, "My grace (loving-kindness) is sufficient (enough, to satisfy) for you; for my power (dunamis: strength, from the English word dynamite, miracle working power) is made perfect (complete, to render a thing full) in weakness (infirmity, sickness, to bear trial, trouble; inability to understand a thing).

Paul’s response (after time, I’m sure); I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me (verse 10). (By the way, to hear biblically is to respond. Unresponsiveness in relationship is likened to deafness.)

So, my current weakness combined with Christ’s power (or strength) equals completion (perfection, i.e. to render a thing full). I am praying this scripture not only for me, but also for Tyler. God’s grace is sufficient for him too; His power will be made perfect in Tyler’s weakness (and Ben's and Caleb's and Steven's). I must trust in that. I must believe it with all my might until I see it in reality. That’s what faith is, right?

We covet your prayers.