Split

Reflections on the old me...

Before God gave me this new identity as "Grateful Gwen" I spent a majority of my life feeling torn... split between attempting to serve two masters and failing at both [Matthew 6:24.]

Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh 

in 2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn 

2 Corinthians 12: 1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We all have thorns. They may come in the form of cancer, addiction, codependency, mental and/or physical disabilities, perfectionism, greed, estranged relationships, lust, divorce, sexual orientation frustrations, hoarding, gender confusion, comparison, or any number of other proverbial thorns that make this life challenging to continue living at times.

Today I am grateful to be at peace with who I am... FINALLY! Comfortable in my own skin, with all of my perfect imperfections-- physically, mentally, and emotionally.

That is unquestionably a God-thing!!! 2 Corinthians 5:17 MADE NEW!!!

New Living Translation 2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

English Standard Version 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Berean Standard Bible 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Berean Literal Bible 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being.

King James Bible 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

New King James Version 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

https://youtu.be/SEgM7r9_8Ww

To describe the excruciating pain I experienced feeling "split" in my old life as a slave to my "thorns" would require vocabulary that simply escapes me at the moment.

Please don't misunderstand me. I still experience thorns in my life today. The difference is that in the Power of NOW [Matthew 6:34], I have the Peace that surpasses understanding [Philippians 4:6-7] which includes His grace which is sufficient for me [2 Corinthians 12:9]

There is ONE who has all power... may you find Him NOW. :)