Wednesday, August 4, 2010

August Woes

I'm not exactly sure why, but the past few summers my chronic health issues have flared up by mid-July and on into August. Summer is not my favorite season (Spring and Fall come first) in general because I don't like the heat. But it seems that summer doesn't agree with my mind and body too.

I try not to be discouraged, but it's difficult to struggle through my days instead of really enjoying them, especially when I have children to take care of.  Mornings are worse. Some days are better are others. But much of the time I don't have the mental or physical energy to do what I would like to do.

My summer goals of exercising and organizing have become dust in the wind. I do what I can when I can on better days (or even better hours). But I've had to let go of my weekly plans so that I don't have unrealistic expectations of myself, and then end up feeling like I've failed. 

This too shall pass. By September sometime, I usually start feeling better. Wonder if it has anything to do with lunar cycles and seasons? I've heard such theories.

Among others, 2 Corinthians has many verses that I hold on to during such times.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 is a favorite passage:

 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."

Paul had a thorn in his flesh that he asked God three times to remove.
But each time, God replied, 

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9)

Learning to be content in weakness is difficult. But God is faithful; and if we're open and seek Him, it's IN times of weakness that we meet God in a more personal way and develop deeper character.

7 comments:

Bev said...

Like many Christians, I've wondered many times about that 'thorn in the flesh'. I wonder sometimes if scripture purposely doesn't tell us what it was - so we can all feel like we have empathy for whatever our thorn is.... praying you have an encouraging day out there.

Nancy said...

Chris, this is actually very interesting to me because I've never put my finger on the fact that summer might just be really hard for me. I've always loved summer, but this one has been horrible and now that I'm thinking about it, the past few have been a challenge as well. I'm just not very good at connecting the dots sometime. Ha!

I'm so glad to have met you through your blog and hope we can meet in person sometime. You will never know how when I'm struggling, I so often think, "Chris would understand."

Hang in there, dear sister, fall is on the way!

Chris said...

Aw, Nancy, your comment warmed my heart. I think of you too, when I'm not doing well, and wonder how you handle those days.

Yes, we really should be able to meet sometime when I come down to see my sister!
{{big hug}}

Karen Hossink said...

"if we're open and seek Him, it's IN times of weakness that we meet God in a more personal way and develop deeper character."
Oh, so many times I have wanted to suggest to God that it would be a better idea to let me grow through 'easy' times. But He knows better.
Yes, indeed. My faith and my character grow through the struggles.

Sara K. said...

Hi Chris! I'm sorry to hear about your health issues flaring up. That is NOT fun, and you're so right -- being content in weakness IS difficult. However, I love the truth you wrote: that we meet God in a more personal way during those times of weakness. Those can be such bittersweet times! Some of those times, in my life, are ones I look back on the most fondly.

Sending up some prayers for you!!

Maisy said...

Love you, Chris.

Chris said...

Thanks for the encouragement friends.