"Survive It"

They say if you survive it,

It only makes you strong,

And I would not deny it,

Or say that they were wrong.

But I have somehow lived through things,

That beat me up so bad,

And, yes, I still could do some things,

But strength’s not what I had.

Sometimes got so exhausted,

Felt nothing more than weak,

Reality accosted,

Want nothing more than sleep.

Sometimes when we can talk some,

I’ll show you my old scars,

And limping when I walk some,

‘Cause of blows when I saw stars.

Old cows that ran me over,

And horses bucked me off,

Trucks stuck in the clover,

A cussin’ prayers aloft.

Mean old hot and sweaty,

Nasty wet and cold,

Tryin’ to stay steady,

Before the cattle sold.

No money in my pocket,

‘Cause all of it got spent,

Can’t even try to clock it,

‘Cause don’t know where it went.

And don’t even get me started,

About love’s history,

Been so broken-hearted,

I thought no hope for me.

Course all this gives us reason,

To learn what we need to,

With every single season,

We see what not to do.

What I’ve learned in the valley,

They can’t steal that from me,

And one more time we’ll rally,

And try again, you see.

You might think I am whining,

That’s not the way it’s meant,

Guess sometimes I’m a-pinin’,

For less trouble that was sent.

And strength?  Yes, I am stronger,

‘Cause I’ve survived a lot,

And maybe livin’ longer,

‘Cause grace is what I got!

“…My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT)

Question: How did Paul learn that God’s grace was all that he needed? Answer: He learned it by going through difficulty and having nothing but the grace of God to see him through. I know, I know, it’s simple and very obvious. But, if you are going through trouble, and all of us have, it’s good to remember, don’t you think? I wish I could say that when we hit the crisis we can pray and God will show up and do a miracle to reverse the trouble. Truth is, sometimes that’s exactly what happens. We witness a miracle and with it, great relief! But God doesn’t always do that kind of miracle. Sometimes He doesn’t change everything. Sometimes He gives the grace that just changes us. Either way, we can count on His grace. Believe it.

Lord, help us lay hold of the grace that is sufficient for every challenge, in Jesus’ name.

Photography by Jess Lee, jessleephotos.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Jess, and God bless you.