Sometimes God has to put us in the most lowly, vulnerable positions before we are ready to hear and see what he has prepared for us. Last year I experienced that as I battled through a series of struggles with Depression. At one point my negative thoughts overwhelmed me and I imagined that the world would be better off without me in it. Thankfully, I was honest with my husband and he took me to the local Emergency Room where I received compassionate care that placed me with the professionals who would best help me through my lowest point. It was during a hospitalization that I spent hours and hours in God's Word and began to feel Him once again.

Months later I can confidently say that God used that vulnerability to prepare my heart to grow in faith and in the Word. It was this message that he was preparing for me:

“And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 was my verse of the year focusing on the word abound, and God taught me that he provides an overflowing amount of grace to prepare us for all things, at all times, and in every way. While that verse had been chosen and prayed over many times before, it wasn't until I felt stripped of everything else in life that I was able to really open my eyes to what He was telling me. I already had everything I needed for every situation, and that is God's grace. He blesses us with it to an overflowing amount so that we can glorify Him.

Whatever He uses in your life, I pray that you may also openly receive his grace so that you may abound (and overflow!) in every good work.

-Your friend in Christ, Delicia

Photo by Stephen Rheeder on Unsplash