On the Other Side

To all who mourn in Israel, 

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, 

a joyous blessing instead of mourning, 

festive praise instead of despair. 

In their righteousness, 

they will be like great oaks that the lord 

has planted for his own glory. 

Isaiah 61:3

Going through hardships and trials are never easy. It’s never easy to lose someone whether in a friendship or relationship. Recently, I went through my own break-up. Talk about a time of feeling vulnerable, sad, and disappointed. I think when women go through these times, it's a fear that plunges in their heart that fears the idea of "starting over". You know its some things that are "deal breakers" for you or some things in a relationship that don't necessarily sit well with you, but instead of listening to the Holy Spirit tell you these things you try to compromise. "Well this isn't really all that big of a deal," and it probably isn't however, compromising should never involve your happiness. While going through the motions of this break-up, I wondered and I prayed to God because I couldn't understand why this was happening to me. Ten months invested in this relationship you couldn't tell me I didn't have "Mr. Right". So I couldn’t understand why the relationship had come to an end.

One morning during my devotion, I was taken to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul talks about a pain he felt in these scriptures. More specifically a thorn in his flesh. Talk about pain! In the Message Version of the Bible it says, "a gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. I relate this pain Paul felt to the pain we feel when going through disappointments and trials in our lives. As I go through this time I find peace in knowing that Satan meant for all this to hurt me and tear me down but through that pain I have learned to run to my safe haven. I have learned to run to God. I know in His arms is where I find comfort. In His arms I know I can find peace. The Message Version of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 says, "I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. Paul goes on to say, “at first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, my grace is enough; it’s all you need.”

Through difficult times God wants us to know that it’s Him that we need, not the thing or person we lost. He's the only one who can truly satisfy us. The Bible says, "He will give us a crown of beauty for our ashes" (Isaiah 61:3). How wonderful is it that we can lay our hurt, pain, brokenness, and sorrows at the foot of His throne and He will give us a crown of beauty in exchange. My favorite part of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is when God says, "My strength comes into its own in your weakness." Paul was glad when he went through trials of any kind because he knew that when he was weak God was strong in him. So yes, what you're going through may hurt but it hurts because you can't see what’s on the other side of the pain. I can't see what's on the other side of my hurt, but I rest in the fact that I trust in the One who is all knowing. The One who is all knowing says in Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I pray that whoever is reading this finds peace in knowing that God has something great in store for them. Cling to Him!