“God makes a thin place to see glory.” ~ Ann Voskamp The Greatest Gift

When Ann spoke about this in her book The Greatest Gift it made so much sense to me.  I thought of the thin places I have in my soul. They are places that have been worn through and made raw by the hurt and pain I have experienced. New ragged holes in my soul have revealed and renewed a precious truth to me in my journey with my two wayward hearts. That truth is: God is always with me.

Where do those thin places come from for parents whose children have wayward hearts?

• They come from conversations filled with tears, anger, and accusations of hate because we hold to our beliefs on sexuality even as we hold to our love for them and they cannot accept the two are compatible or true. 
• They come from the on-going sorrow related to calls from the police because of a failed attempt to remain sober or clean.  
• They come from manic days ending in hospitalization because the demons of mental health are attacking their mind and winning the battle with the one you love so deeply.
• They come from the unanswered texts, calls, or emails you’ve sent to the one who loved God at one time, but now wants nothing to do with Him or you.  
• They come from hurts that have not been mentioned above. Pain caused by a wayward heart that you love and weep over.

These are the things that rub and tear thin places in our souls. Hopefully you can see His glory peeking through those ragged holes. God did not cause the pain, but He will use the pain to reveal His glory and draw you closer to Him. When these holes in our souls are revealed, try not to focus on the pain alone instead look for the presence of God with you. To be totally honest, that presence is sometimes hard to see. When that happens we have to hold on to the truth of His word. God said in Isaiah, “I will be with you.” Trust Him He will!

Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

What are the thin ragged places in your soul?  Are you trusting God with those things?  Do you see him there with you? If not, take the time now to ask God to show you how He is with you in the midst of your pain.  Ask Him to help you trust Him with your pain, sorrows, regrets, and rejection. Then take the time to thank Him for always being there with you.