Hey Clawson Family,

Song:

Scripture: 

Hebrews 4:16

16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Devotion:

When were are dealing with mental health there are a lot of questions that plague our minds! Does God hear me? Does He see my pain? Will He help me? 

Verses like we just read give us hope because we see that  God sees, hears, and loves us. But sometimes knowing the truth and feeling it are not the same! 

Maybe you’ve been asking God for help, but it doesn’t feel like things have gotten better.

We see where even Paul struggled with the same thing. He called it “a thorn in the flesh.” Paul prayed for his thorn to go away three times, but it didn’t. I want us to look at how he responded. 

Paul didn’t give up on God or on prayer. His thorn was painful, but it was part of God’s plan for his life. And through his thorn, he found a deeper and more personal relationship with God.

In a nutshell: Prayer for healing is a good thing and is often a source of peace and comfort. So keep praying, even when God doesn’t answer the way you hope.

You’re invited to pray. Ask God for peace, and perhaps healing, too. As you pray, remember to spend time listening. It may be that God wants to encourage you or teach you something new. Maybe this season of pain has a purpose, and only prayer can unlock its potential.

God is present, and He wants connection. He has invited us to approach Him confidently and ask for anything. Sometimes we receive what we ask for. Other times we don’t. But when God doesn’t respond in the way we expect, it’s always an invitation to listen, learn, and experience God’s love in a new way.

Journal: In your journal write down how you typically handle negative or depressing thoughts and feelings. What would it look like to validate your emotions and label your feelings while also remembering they aren’t permanent?

Training: Spend time in prayer. Take him all of your cares, concerns and troubles but don’t expect a certain result. Be open to God’s plan! Listen for his voice.