There is a theme this week.

• When you are in over your head, God isn't.
• There is more going on than what you can see with your physical eyes.

Those are important lessons to learn. Because there will be times when you need to know those truths with certainty.

I won't say where I was. I won't tell you all that happened. But it was THE toughest season in my ministry. It was a train-wreck. There was fall out. I was serving in the one place that would forever change my ministry. It was my personal crisis of faith. I found myself asking questions like:

• Why would God bring me here?
• Has God abandoned me?
• What am I doing here?
• How can I get out? 

I had good friends praying for me when I couldn't pray.

I had wise counsel to remind me of truths I couldn't remember on my own.

I found encouragement in surprising people and places.

But in the midst of it, I just wanted it to stop.

Maybe that's what Paul is talking about in 2 Corinthians 12. He starts off talking about visions that are "behind the scenes". But then he turns to write about his "thorn".

 I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don't know-only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I'm not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even 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.

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each 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. 10 That'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.

Paul reminds us that there are "unknowns" in our lives. But even those "unknowns" to us are not "unknown" to God.

He knows.

He knows what He is doing.

He even knows how to take our weakness, our "tough seasons", our thorns and troubles-and He does what He does best.

He works with mercy, grace, love, and power on your behalf.

Are you up against it today? Maybe you just need to pray a prayer of trust and faith.

"Father, I don't understand. I hurt. I want it to stop. But Father, would you teach me even in this season of life to trust you? Teach me that when I don't know what to do or how to react or where to turn, you know. And that is enough for today. Remind me that you know what is best for me."