It’s easy to look at the smaller dots on my hands and arms and think to myself:

“What I am dealing with and have dealt with is so small after seeing what others are going through.”

Or to look at my larger incision and think:

“I need to move past the little things. This needs all of my prayer.”

The question I asked myself while pondering all of this was :

When did my pain start or stop being “pain” unless it was deemed worthy in comparison to something else or someone else?

What I’ve noticed is that when we start to compare pain/wounds/scars/struggle to something else or each other, we begin to believe God does the same. We have created rankings in our minds of what struggles we need to suppress and what God considers “big enough” for prayer based on our experiences and the environment around us. And God just doesn’t do that. He cares about it all.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
-­2 Corinthians ­1:3-5 ­ESV

 “In all our affliction”– cancer, relationships, rejection, addictions, discontentment, fear, getting overwhelmed, being neglected, struggles in a job, sadness, financial deficit, pain, anxiety, changes, being stuck, insecurity, stress, depression, illness, and more. As the list of goes on and on, God’s love for us does, too.

I am so thankful that God cares about it all. Because what appears to be the smallest markings on my skin are actually a reflection of one of my biggest struggles: needles. And I needed God’s constant comfort in that. It may not be a struggle for someone else, but it is worth praying for since it is a difficulty that I face. And I can also look at my last incision and know that it’s not too big to pray for God to handle and heal, too! And I am thankful that He continues to hear my prayers about it today.

No matter where you are in your journey, I want you to know that you are loved. You matter. Your struggles and the trials you face are deeply cared about. There is no problem too big for God to handle or too small for Him to care about. He cares about you. All of you. And he provides comfort in all things.

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
-Philippians ­4:6 ESV

So today, let’s spread this same type of love by showing compassion without comparison. Breathe words of life and encouragement to one another. Lift up others in prayer through all pain/struggles.

Fighters, Survivors, and Supporters, your story matters. I want to encourage you today to do 2 things:

1. Take time to talk and pray with someone about your pain and struggles. You are not alone and do not have to face trial alone. It was never meant to be that way. {Galatians 6:2}
2. Ask someone how you can pray for them today and take the time to do that. I heard a quote on the radio this week that went like this: “If God answered every prayer you prayed, would anyone else’s life change besides your own?” Let’s be prayer warriors for each other!

Thank you for all of your prayers and for fighting with me through this journey. You are an amazing supporter and I want to support you in the way you have so graciously and lovingly done for me! Please let me know if you have any prayer requests. Know today that you’re an overcomer! Keep going! {John 16:33} No pain or scar is too small or too big for God!

Sparkle on,
Nicole Body