2 Corinthians 12:9: "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."
The last few weeks have been some of the best ones I have enjoyed since January 2009.
My thoughts -- which can get caught, like an old record, on bad and scary things -- have for the most part been quiet. I've enjoyed nearly a month of peace -- peace that is not coming because of medication (I'm on such a minimal dosage of it, it is almost negligible) but I believe, because God has given me rest. And my gosh, it is a treat.
The last week though has been tough... thoughts and fears are back, anxiety is up and brought with her that ugly sister of hers known as depression... it's like a bad movie. Only difference is in the last few weeks when things have been going so well, I've actually forgotten what it was like to have to contend with episodes of intense OCD.
But that's the thing, isn't it -- regardless of where we are at in life, we don't have to "contend", instead we have to trust, rely and have faith in God. It's difficult - some days, it feels darn near impossible - but it is what we must do in order to get through whatever ordeal we may be facing.
My ordeal is OCD. Perhaps yours is a broken marriage, an empty bank account, a sick child or an abusive spouse. Whatever the case may be, we need to trust on the One who delivers for His children better than anybody else, to rely not on our own strength, but on the strength of the One who asks not that we wallow and worry about our problems but instead find refuge from the storm in His open arms:
Matthew 11:29-30: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Can I suggest something a little nutty -- all of you out there, develop a case of OCD... no no, not the type of OCD I have, but the One that can give you a comfort in the midst of your storm when you think you have to do it all on your own...
God's OCD is explained this way:
O - Only
C - Christ
D - Delivers
Only Christ Delivers. Not you, not me, not your parents or spouse, friend or boss.
Christ.
His strength. His purpose. His love. His deliverance.
Christ.
When we choose to have that type of OCD, it can make every storm feel like little more than a drop.
However difficult the problem you face, choose to embrace God's OCD. It's both a hope and a promise, one that will never let you down.
Take that example of Christ on the boat in the midst of the storm mentioned in Mark 4:37-39.
Disciples screaming. Wind howling. The boat listing. Water crashing overboard. The sound of straining boards threatening to come apart with every lurch.
Where was Christ?
Sleeping. Calm in the midst of a storm.
And He rose at the disciples cries and said to the storm: "Quiet! Be still".
And it was.
Only Christ Delivers.
Then, like now. In the midst of their storm, and in the midst of yours.
