How to Be a Star

Before you get too excited, this is not a post about becoming famous or even popular on your own little planet. I’m writing about shining stars filled with truest Light, especially on the darkest nights. I’m talking about when you hurt excruciating and feel your own heart breaking into all the pieces so your peace is disturbed.

How can you even care or dare to shine the Light of Light Himself when you are orbiting a darkened season? Many of us shy

away from this kind of stardom. But we don’t have to.

The past few days, my own little orbit has involved great pains of the chronic sort. I’m not going to name that pain here because it’s more important that you relate, so name your own pain and consider it as you read. You know, the one that’s been around a long time, comes and goes. The kind you’re not really sure if the next time it rolls around will end without more extreme measures before healing arrives? This is where I’ve been. But on day five, I see radiant beams of relief and improvement for which I’m extremely grateful to God.

After years and cycles of dealing with this pain, I’ve learned some things about painful seasons. Yet, there’s still much to be gained and I’m not fully trained on how to be a shining star in darkest spaces. I’m simply going to shed some light on what I’ve learned in case you might wonder. And I’ll share Instagram inspiration from one particular family orbiting a situation no one would choose while simultaneously Jesus-shining like the stars they are, truly.

My goal now, when this pain hits, is to “wait well” because I do know: God is healing me in and through it. I even have scripture marked in the journal-margins where I’ve lived this pain and been healed by God, again and again. Every time. Date after date beside Psalm 30:2 “Lord, my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me.” This reminds me He is consistent and keeps His Word, so I can count on Him to add a new date, even now, even while I’m hurting. He always heals, one way or another. This side of Heaven, or the next, healing is a given if you’ve given your life to Jesus.

So, God is Healer and I can trust Him. This helps me face the fear of pain. What’s this going to mean for me? How long will I suffer? How bad is it going to hurt? Will my family be affected? What will I miss out on while I wait? My emotions may be melancholy but my spirit soars knowing I can count on God. My closest loved ones remind me of the truth because they’ve walked this with me before. We need our people. We need to remind our people. This is where the Stocks family of stars enters my story.

Ashley Stocks @littlemissmomma recently caught my attention on Instagram. I don’t usually get involved in stories of strangers beyond prayers. “Mind ya business” and all that. This time I was captivated by the courage evoked in my soul as I read the story of this family. Please let Ashley tell you her story and that of her darling daughter, Stevie. Go read and be wowed with me by the confidence this momma has in her God! Stand in awe and wonder of what God can do in a life broken before Him, willing to be actual light in the darkest of diagnoses. @starsforStevie

I need to thank Ashley and Stevie and their family. See, when I felt my pain-induced self slip into a slump of dark, this Star-studded family’s story shook me courageous. If they can illuminate life in pain with God’s help, maybe I can too. Please keep sharing raw and real @littlemissmomma. You are seen and known and loved fully by God, and prayed for by me and countless others, as you already know.

Pain. A teacher, an opportunity, a thorn in the flesh, a part of life, being human. It just is. Pain is a given. Gifts of pain, for me, have included humility; I’m small and needy, God is Big and Helpful. Stillness is another pain-gift; gratitude, patience, and hunger for God are noticed when I’m resting for healing’s sake and this helps me function healthier than when I’m too busy to notice.

Pain of the chronic kind can be bold, beautiful pieces of the life-puzzle where heart change and renewal radiate. Stars filled with the brilliance of pain revelations tend to shine the brightest, in my observation.

If you’re in pain, I urge you to be a star. Humbly, confidently give yourself over to the Healer. He will sustain you in the wait, supply you with courage, teach you wondrous things, and reveal a greater joy-filled light inside you so others can meet Him, too.

We can stand shining in our given places when our place is standing in Christ.

Stars have their own motion in space that is called “proper motion.“ Why do stars even have motion? It’s because they are moving around the center of their galaxy.

You and I have our own motion in the space God has given us to live, our galaxy. How can we be stars even when life hurts darkest?

By moving around the Center of our lives, Jesus.