I am about to subject myself to excruciating pain for the soul purpose of beauty. I am heading to my local torture chamber so I can be physically abused.
Okay, okay, so I am making it sound a little worse than it truly is. I am heading to our nail salon to have my eyebrows waxed. What can I say? I am a wimp. I have no pain tolerance and I want my lollipop after I get a shot at the doctor’s office.
It occurred to me many beautiful things in life are the result of walking through something painful. Having my eyebrows waxed is a simple example of how we must suffer for beauty. I personally do not think of labor pains as a walk in the park either, but I gladly went through them to receive the gift of my precious children. My husband and I went through a long, painful 4 years of financial struggle but in the end we were able to do the Dave Ramsey “I’m debt free!” declaration.
Life is going to bring struggles and difficulties. Some are a result of our choices and some just show up. Some aren’t huge and others shake you so hard you begin to wonder if you’re going to make it. Either way, the Lord will see you through.
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Our source of strength is Jesus. He knows what it is like to endure pain and suffering for something beautiful in return. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Jesus provides sufficient strength to carry you from the pain and to something beautiful. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, ”But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”