endurance and patience with joy

(source)

Last was a rough week. Most of it I was sick. Most of it I was exhausted. ALL of it I was busy. It was one of those weeks that I was just praying that I would live through it to get to this week (which isn't much better, but it does involve a road trip for a friend's wedding - aka: light at the end of the tunnel).

On Monday, I decided that I was going to read the book of Colossians. It had been in the back of my mind for while, and I just had a feeling that this was the week God wanted me to read it. I've also been listening to this podcast series by Matt Chandler on my Zune.

Anyway, it was the turning point for me. This particular verse in chapter one was the phrase I was breathing. I whispered it when I felt like I couldn't do one more thing and yet there were still 15 things to do. It was my saving grace.

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy." Colossians 1:11

My week didn't get any easier. Nothing on the outside changed. But peace flooded my heart and I could breathe amidst the craziness/sickness. It was one of those times that the Word seemed more dear than anything else in the world. And nothing compares to that.