2:187 – Suck It Up, Buttercup!

#faithbites #faithjourney buttercup

Have you ever gone through something hard and someone says “Suck it up, Buttercup” or something to that extent? I had someone say that to me as I am going through caffeine withdrawal.

You can look at that in one of two ways. The first is negative. Meaning you are being a baby or less of a (insert gender or descriptor here). That if you just try harder you will do better. Or that it’s not a big deal and you are making it a bigger deal of it for attention.

The second, is what can you do to improve the situation? You can wallow in it or search for help or strength from someone.

In this case, I know I’m not making it up and I also know that I’m trying different remedies from decaf tea to chocolate to doing researching what is going on medically. I am also praying for strength and quickness in healing. And I thank the person for saying that as it’s great fodder for #faithbites and discussing strength.

We all have those moments when we are told to suck it up. We can choose to look at it in the negative (even if the person meant it that way) or we can look at it in the positive and seek help.

Scripture

• God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. – Psalm 46:1-3
• He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147:3
• If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. – 2 Corinthians 1:6

Reflection

Let’s dig into this. We all have physically, mental, and spiritual wounds. Some heal quickly, some take more time. Some we dwell on it when we should move on while others we don’t dwell on enough to understand. We know that the Lord is our refuge and our strength. He binds our wounds no matter what they are, we just need to come to him. We also know that life will never be easy. We will go back and forth between distress and comfort. The question we need to ask ourselves is how do we stay strong when we feel weak or when others think we should be healing faster than we are or appear to be?

First, no one knows exactly what you are going through. They can be empathetic and have similiar experiences but it’s not the same. There is no normal. As my boss, a pediatrician, says a baby can walk anytime between 9 and 15 months. Both are normal. This is where we need to be kind to each other.

Second, the Lord is our answer. When we feel weak but pretend to be strong, he is there. When we hurt, he is there. There is no weakness in turning it over to God for help, direction, and healing.

I know I’m physically and mentally in pain. I also know that through good routines including prayer, medicine, and doctor’s care, I will come out on top. So yes, I am sucking it up, Buttercup to live in the word.

Prayer

Lord, life is hard. We have so many things to be thankful for but are also struggling with physical, mental, and spiritual pain. Help us to find solace in you, learn to be stronger by your grace, and know that you are always watching us. Give us your strength as we live day to day, sharing the word, and healing ourselves at the same time. Amen.

Until next time

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