I’ve been trying to write this post all day (Monday) but I’ve had a horrible headache since I woke up this morning. I don’t know what caused this aching to occur, but it has persisted all day. All throughout the day my productivity was dampened because my head was throbbing. I was hoping that some delicious Mexican food would end the pain, but not even some enchiladas suizas did the trick.
This might seem like a trivial thing to you, but I don’t often have headaches, especially ones that persist for an entire day. As the day grew longer I started to think about people who have to live with migraines, or other forms of chronic pain. I’ve only been in very minor pain for one day, and I already can’t stand it. I’m sure my headache will be gone by morning, but I couldn’t help thinking of those who don’t have the luxury of a relatively pain-free life.
So I left dinner and headed home, saddened by my persisting pain, when I walked into our kitchen and found a box of cupcakes sitting there on the counter. I bought the cupcakes for my sister-in-law when she was here last night. She moved to NYC this morning to pursue her dance career, and we were celebrating this new chapter in her life. I had forgotten about the cupcakes, and when I saw them, my heart leapt.
I love cupcakes.
I mean let’s be honest, who doesn’t love cupcakes? And when I saw that box I immediately felt better. My head still ached, but I didn’t care because I was about to sink my teeth into one (or two or three) delicious cupcake(s). As silly as this sounds, I found refuge in that small round piece of sprinkle-covered heaven. It’s the little things in life that I really love the most.
I am going to assume that we have all experienced some form of physical, emotional or spiritual pain at one point in our lives. Maybe you are in such a place right now. When I find myself in these trials, I like to read this scripture:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” – Psalm 46:1-3
No matter where I am, or what I am enduring, I find comfort and strength in the refuge of God. I hope you do too. Wherever you are today, I hope you don’t forget that when all else fails, God can be your refuge and strength. And cupcakes help too.
Have a wonderful week my friends,
Pastor Alex