A clumsy attempt at pain management

(*a note for my children.)

It's been a week of new epilepsy meds, calls to two hospitals,  more liability hospital waivers, puking kids,
 a Subaru with a broken head gasket, another seizure; and all this, while John is away...

Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. (2 Cor 6:10)

I have to be brutally honest. I haven't arrived at this scriptural place today.
I'm still standing, yes.
 But I'm wobbly, and too tired to find my bearings.
 Kids, when you feel this way, it's hard to see things with clarity.
 This leaves you feeling confused--precisely at a time when you really need answers.
 It's a painful place to be.
In spite of the pain, don't be afraid.
 I can assure you of a few things:

#1 You're not alone-these are universal emotions. Everyone feels helpless and utterly alone at times.
Seventy-five of the one hundred and fifty Psalms are psalms of lament.
They are replete with...."why God?"...."where are You, God?"....."how long, o, Lord!"...
 So as you cope, however that looks, hold on and know that He carries you
 (Psalm 73:23, Matthew 28:20, Deut. 31:6).

#2 There is enough grace for this- God is not shaken
 or surprised that you are here in this place.
He saw it in advance, and it was filtered through His hands. He knows what your frame is,
 which is just another way of saying that He knows you, and what your made of.
 All of you. Even the parts that you don't know. He knows your intentions,
He knows your anger, your fears, disappointments, impatience,
 and the pain behind your fake smile
...all of it. He also knows something else...you're His. He went through a lot of trouble to save you.
This is no mamby-pamby transaction. No.He will finish the work He began in you.
 He is not a God who starts projects and stops them because He's bored, frustrated with or has lost interest in you.
 His patience does not look like yours. He is the Author and Finisher, and He also will do this.
 Cling to this GRACE. And remind yourself of the gospel. It is for you.

#3 Redeem the time. Taking some time to cope is okay. In fact, it's biblical. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, and I have found that it helps when I'm intentional about this. In the haze of it all, give yourself permission to cry it out. Appoint a time for it..a finite time.
 And at the end of this time, get up, wash your face,
 take a deep breath, and get moving. Don't stay stuck! There comes a point where you must
 take control of your thoughts and emotions (2 Cor. 10:5) and show them Who's Boss! 

#4 This too, will pass.  And when it does, you will be changed. You will be equipped to hold someone else's hand with authority and compassion.
 You can walk with them through the valley, and be a comfort. Not only this, but you will know what that hurting soul looks like
-they will be familiar and easy to identify.
 You will know what to say, or how to pray. You will know how to minister. Remember Hebrews 12:11,12

And the God of all grace,
 who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
 after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you
and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10

So for today, I pray that I can take my own advice. But this one thing I do know,
even though I don't "feel" much like rejoicing right now, I will- because I know He will carry me through.

 To Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before
His glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior
 be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages,
now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude v. 24,25

(Now,  that's something to rejoice about!)