“My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“He’s always been a little stinker.” Ruthie laughs as she pulls the photo from off her piano top. A scruffy little boy around the age of eight is smiling widely minus his two front teeth.
“But, he’s my stinker…and I miss him. It’s been years since I’ve gotten a hug.” She gently places the picture back, her expression remote.
I hesitate asking; but a part of me feels as if Ruth actually wants me to. “Where’s Adam?”
“Last I heard he was hitchhiking somewhere in the San Fernando Valley. But, that was a few months ago. God only knows where he is now.” Ruth rises from her chair suddenly.
“Would you like something to drink? I just brewed some fresh coffee.”
“In a minute.” I reach out to touch her hand.
“So, How are you, doing, Ruthie?” I search her hazel eyes, trying to figure out how my friend is really feeling.
Ruth tenitively sits back down. “You know, when Adam first left home I was a total wreck. I was mad at God, mad at myself… feeling utterly helpless…”
I can almost feel Ruth urging herself to continue. “A huge part of me was out there wandering the streets without a home or any protection, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. I would give my life for my son…and, for months, I did.” She sighs deeply, a hint of relief reflected in her face.
“Oh, I was relentless in my search for him. But, the harder I worked towards getting him back home, the further Adam ran from us.” Ruth anxiously stands back up; heading towards her cupboards and retrieving two coffee mugs.
“It was then I realized that I needed to really let go—to trust God with the most important part of me: my son.” Those beautiful hazel eyes of hers were heavy but hopeful.
“I wasn’t aware of how much guilt I would feel for obeying what God put on my heart!” Ruth smiles weakly while slowly pouring the black brew.
“But, frantically worrying wasn’t bringing my son back home any sooner, and it certainly wasn’t good for the rest of my family.” Snickers, her golden retriever, seems to sense her pain and trots over to Ruthie’s side protectively.
“God really has me in the palm of His hand, Jules. When I pray for Adam now, It’s so strange: I get comfort. I’m not fearful anymore. I’m hopeful. If that isn’t God, than I don’t know what is.” Snickers basks in Ruth’s loving affection.
As Ruth looks back at me, I notice that her face is shining. Not like a woman who is void of problems, but like a woman who has faith in a God that is bigger than her problems. And somehow, amidst all of Ruth’s pain, my faith in God increases as well.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
The hardest thing in the world is to really give you complete control. For some reason, holding onto even bad things is easier than letting them go.
Lord, I’m so afraid of really trusting you. I am so fearful that you might forget about my little life and my little needs.
But, the more I get to know you and how good you really are, the clearer the depths of your love for me become.
I need a supernatural revelation of just how much you love me. Help me to love you back with the same kind of supernatural love.
In Jesus’ precious name, take this little seed of trust and multiply it to become a fruitful field of faith. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan
*Please keep “Adam” in your prayers. He hasn’t come home yet.