The Big Reveal

 Caregiving is a strange mix of emotions. I'm pretty sure there's nothing that can squeeze who we really are out of us like becoming a caregiver. It forces us to take a deeper look at ourselves. It can shuck us down to the bare essentials of life in no time. I've often referred to it as the crucible of life. But that doesn't mean it's all bad; it just gets rid of all the extras we thought we needed.

We love our persons! Most caregivers love caring for loved ones, even if we don't love why we need to care for them. And of course, there are other situations that are equally effective at revealing who we really are. But caregiving is in a class of its own! Lol. There's no time to carry around extra stuff. In fact, sometimes, caregivers tend to stuff emotions and feelings because there simply isn't time to sort them out. That's part of why we live on that proverbial edge, ready to explode, because our hands were wet when we grabbed a dishwasher pod, and now they're all stuck together. Or how we fall apart when we can't get the package open. Lol. 

He's the lowdown - Caregiving exposes our weaknesses. It has a way of revealing who we really are. We simply do not have time for the facade! But guess what! It's not all bad.

In the last three chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul has been in circumstances that have sabotaged his facade. He has come face-to-face with his own weakness and found it was actually okay. In fact, here is this leading apostle discovering how weak he was and admitting it. (2 Cor. 11:30) After the one verse in this passage that we mark up and quote (His grace is sufficient for us!), Paul makes a bolder and more powerful statement. He goes so far in chapter 12, verse 9, to say he will boast in his weaknesses. (Yes, plural!!!!) He also says he is content with them because it is how Christ's strength is revealed in him.

I love that - because there is nothing like caregiving that can reveal our deeply hidden weaknesses. But when they are revealed, and we must face them, we can roll them over onto God and trust that His strength will prevail in us.

Today, I will be happy with all my weaknesses, for in them is how I learn how much I need Him! He will not throw us or our weaknesses away. Instead, He moves in close and lets us reap from His strength. I will be thankful today that I know how weak I truly am. For it is only then that I can fully realize the depth of my need for a Savior, a comforter, and a friend. I believe I am just weak enough to trust Him for one more day! Will you join me?

Check out one of my best-selling books - 31 Days in Psalm 31. It's a devotional taken from Psalm 31 (obviously!) - a time when David was hiding in a cave from Saul - even though he'd been anointed the next king. The social isolation of caregiving can certainly make it feel like we live in a cave, but God is there with us. And that's what this 31-day devotional is all about, exploring and discovering God in the caves of life. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.